Death toll rises in central Nigeria riots spurred by checkpoint killing of a Muslim

YOLA, Nigeria – A local official says the death toll from riots that erupted in central Nigeria has risen from four to 10.

Abubakar Sadani, the councilor of a ward in Ibi in Taraba state, said Monday that ten people had died.

Ibi government chairman Isiaku Adamu had said Sunday at least four people were killed.

Adamu said the violence broke out after a Christian vigilante group killed a Muslim resident who insisted on going through their illegal checkpoint set up as a response to church attacks in other parts of the country.

A radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for most of these attacks.

Local police spokesman Amos Alaoye said calm had returned to the area on Monday after the deployment of troops.