Over the weekend at least nine Christians were killed, churches were set on fire and businesses and homes destroyed in the Tundun Wada area of Kano State, Nigeria, Christian Today has learned.

The violence was committed by Muslim youths and followed unspecified allegations that Christians had blasphemed the prophet Mohammed.

According to sources on the ground, not a single Christian church, house or business has been left undamaged and an unknown number of people were injured and displaced during the violence, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has received reports indicating that, in an attempt to disguise the true extent of the violence and injuries, the authorities in Tundun Wada have evacuated Christians and other non-Muslims to neighbouring Bauchi State.

Tensions have reportedly been rising throughout northern and central Nigeria following allegations of blasphemy. These include two differing stories of the publication of a new cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed, reports that a Christian youth left the name Jesus written on a school blackboard and rumours that a dispute between school pupils was related to religion.

Kano is a notoriously volatile state where regular bouts of anti-Christian violence have at times resulted in massacres.

Speaking on behalf of the Christian community following the violence, CAN National Secretary Eng. Samuel Salifu said: "We are pleading for the government to step in. I am directly telling President Yar'Adua because this may be a very good litmus test for his administration."

Responding on behalf of the government, Federal Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan pledged that the new regime would soon convene a national religious conference to address the cycle of religious violence that has affected Nigeria in recent years.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said "We are saddened and outraged by what has happened over the past weekend in Nigeria. It is vital that the both state and federal authorities act decisively to bring the perpetrators to justice and to compensate the victims for their losses.

"We also welcome plans by the federal government for a national religious conference as a starting point, and hope that this debate will lead to effective action to end the religious violence and discrimination that has had such an adverse affect on this key African nation."