Nigeria: At least 38 dead in Islamic sect violence

Mohammed Barau, a police spokesman for Bauchi state, said Tuesday that members of the Kata Kalo sect began fighting among themselves Monday night and accusing each other of causing their leader to fall seriously ill. He corrected earlier official statements that the arrest of the sect leader prompted the clash.

The fighting spread into the streets of a poor neighborhood near the city of Bauchi and military forces attempted to stop the violence, Barau said. Officials said the militants were armed with spears and arrows.

The militants' fierce attack sent the military unit into a retreat, Barau said. At least one soldier and a state security officer died in the initial clash early Monday morning, officials said, as well as two bystanders.

Barau said military and police units returned to the area in force later, but "before police got there, they had already killed themselves." However, extrajudicial killings are common in Nigeria and an Amnesty International report released in November claims police kill hundreds each year; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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