E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.2 page 19 89. The main significant measure taken by the Federal Government in recent times was the imposition of a state of emergency in Plateau State during the second half of 2004 after the killings in Yelwa in May.22 While this had the effect of preventing further violence while it was in force, it is not known whether it has helped to address the root causes of the problem. 90. Finally, despite the periodic recurrence of such violence, no warning mechanisms seem to have been put in place or to function properly in spite of the high degree of predictability of some of the incidents. VII. CONCLUSIONS Religious tensions 91. With respect to the religious tensions existing in Nigeria, the Special Rapporteur has noted that while numerous interlocutors claimed that religion per se was not the cause of tension and violence, conflicts have nevertheless unfolded along religious lines and that increasingly, most societal attitudes and behaviours are translated into religious terms, a phenomenon that exacerbates the differences between religions and creates a climate of religious intolerance. The situation is aggravated by the political manipulation of these differences that is widely claimed to take place. Today, religious identity takes precedence over almost everything else. 92. The Special Rapporteur wishes to take the opportunity of this report to draw attention to the developments that are taking place in Nigeria so that appropriate action can be taken before a wider crisis erupts. Government policy 93. The policy of interference by the Government and local authorities in religious matters, including by selectively subsidizing different forms of manifestation of religious belief, contributes to overemphasizing religious differences instead of helping to find a common ground between communities or allaying tensions. 94. The Special Rapporteur is concerned in this regard that the Government may have oriented its policy in the wrong direction. While it has not hesitated so far to give important support to manifestations of religion by building places of worship or financing pilgrimages, it has often proved reluctant to take a firm stand on religious practices that could be harmful to human rights or take appropriate action with regard to religious violence, for fear of offending one or the other religious community. This policy has unfortunately led to the current situation where the distances between Christians and Muslims are growing and isolating them from each other. Justice and promotion of religious tolerance 95. The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that there cannot be a lasting solution without proper justice for the perpetrators and victims of all acts of violence on religious grounds that have occurred. A climate of impunity can only encourage those who plan to foment further violence, whatever their motivations may be, and reinforce the feeling of injustice of the victims, thereby paving the way for retaliatory action. Impunity further strengthens the fears of those who have been affected by previous instances of violence and inherently limits the enjoyment of