As the riots escalated in north Nigeria's Plateau State, the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has directed the security agents to shoot on sight any person or group they suspected to be fuelling the violence that engulfed the entire state in the past two days.

Sporadic shootings by rioters on the outskirts of Jos, capital of the state, continued on Saturday even as the death toll was on the increase from Thursday's electoral protests put at over 30 to over 153.

Some foreign media reported that the death toll rose to about 350, but there was no confirmation from the state and the Nigeria federal government.

It is widely believed that the violence may have to do with the outcome of the chairmanship election for Jos North Local Government Area which has always been hotly contested by the indigenous tribes and the settler elements.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2008)