Three Nigerian Christian villages were attacked by killers with machetes leaving over 500 dead in the city of Plateau.
According to a Nigerian newspaper, Falani gangs from neighboring villages shouted Allah Akhbar (God is Great) before breaking into homes and setting them alight in the early hours of Sunday (March 7). Churches were among the buildings that were burned down.
Survivors said the attackers were able to separate the Fulanis from members of the rival Berom group by chanting 'nagge', the Fulani word for cattle. Those who failed to respond in the same language were hacked to death.
"People were attacked with axes, daggers and cutlasses” a survivor recounts, “Many of them children, the aged and pregnant women."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged "all parties to exercise restraint", but also called on the Nigerian government to "make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice."
"The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored," the chief US diplomat said.
The explosion of violence is the latest between rival ethnic and religious groups. In January, 326 people died in clashes in and around Jos, according to police although rights activists put the overall toll at more than 550.
Locals said that the attacks on Sunday were the result of a feud which had been first ignited by a theft of cattle and then fuelled by deadly reprisals.
Rights activists said the slaughter appeared to be revenge for the January attacks in which mainly Muslims were killed.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan placed security services in Plateau and nearby states on red alert to contain the violence.
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