At least 4 dead in central Nigeria religious riots spurred by checkpoint killing of Muslim

A local official says at least four people have died in riots that erupted in central Nigeria after a Muslim was killed at an illegal checkpoint.

Local government chairman Isiaku Adamu said rioters burned houses and shops Sunday in Ibi, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) from the Taraba state capital of Jalingo.

He said Christians had put up the checkpoint to stop Muslims from nearing their church during the Sunday service as a response to church attacks in other parts of the country.

Three weeks ago, an explosion injured worshippers at a Catholic church in the north central city of Kaduna.

A Taraba State government spokesman Emmanuel Bello said Sunday that authorities have sent troops to the area.

A spate of church attacks largely blamed on a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram have exacerbated religious tensions in Nigeria.

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