The death toll from clashes between Nigerian security forces and members of an Islamic sect in the northern city of Bauchi has risen to 40 but calm has returned, the Red Cross and police said on Wednesday.

Soldiers and police clashed with members of the sect, who were armed with machetes, in a low-cost housing area on the outskirts of the city on Monday, residents said.
National police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said calm had been restored to the city. He gave a death toll of 38.
 

There have been periodic bouts of religious violence in recent years in Nigeria, roughly divided into a predominantly Muslim north and Christian south, but the unrest has generally been motivated by rivalry over resources or local politics.
 

Residents said the sect members were thought to hold similar beliefs to those of Boko Haram, a radical Islamic group in the city of Maiduguri further north which wants a wider adoption of sharia across Nigeria.
Clashes between the security forces and Boko Haram members killed hundreds of people in Maiduguri in July before the sect's leader was killed.
 

Nigeria is home to sub-Saharan Africa's largest Muslim population and has a strong tradition of moderate Sufi Islam. Most of the country's Muslim leaders and believers dismiss the views of sects such as Boko Haram.

Source: Reuters