At least 35 die in fighting among an Islamic sect in Nigeria’s Muslim north, police say

Nigeria: At least 35 dead in Islamic sect violence

BAUCHI, Nigeria — A Nigerian official says at least 35 people died in a clash among Islamic militants in northern Nigeria.

Bauchi state police spokesman Mohammed Barau says violence happened Monday when members of the Kata Kalo sect accused each other of making their leader gravely ill. He says violence spilled into the street and sect members attacked a military unit. He corrected earlier official statements that the arrest of the sect leader prompted the clash. Officials said the militants were armed with spears and arrows.

Barau says at least one soldier died in the violence, as well as two bystanders. He says fighting has stopped.

In July, fighting sparked by another Islamist sect in Bauchi began a wave of violence that left more than 700 dead.