A major reason for the unrest in Jos is the thousands of Christian refugees from northern Moslem areas. Christians in the north are uncomfortable with the imposition of Sharia (Islamic) law and are often persecuted because their customs are different than Moslem ones (Christians can drink alcohol, Moslems cannot.) Since the military government was overthrown two years, at least 6,000, and as many as 10,000, have died in religious and ethnic violence. The military dictatorship kept a tight lid on protests and such, but the underlying animosities remained.