LAGOS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Clashes between an Islamic sect in northern Nigeria's Bauchi State and the police has claims eight lives and several others injured.

"No fewer than eight people including two soldiers and four children have been killed while a number of houses were burnt in another religious crisis which erupted in Zango, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis," a security source told Xinhua.

The source said the violence erupted on Monday when the sect group known as Kala Kato, went on rampage to demand the release of its arrested leader.

Muhammed Barau, state police spokesman, told reporters that the crisis was contained following the deployment of more than 100 armed policemen and other security agents.

The state government has commended security agencies for promptly stopping the Bauchi crisis from deterioration.

Sanusi Muhammad, special assistant on media to the state governor, Isa Yuguda, said government was satisfied with the handling of the situation by the agencies.

According to him, normalcy has been restored in the crisis area while people have been going about with their normal activities. The government has also warned people against spreading false rumor capable of causing a breach of the peace. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Red Cross has been evacuating residents in the crisis area to safe locations.

In July, the state witnessed a sectarian unrest that erupted in northern Nigeria's Bauchi State that spread to neighboring Adamawa, Kano, Bornoand Yobe States where about 800 people were reportedly killed.

Nigeria is a secular country with the population evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The northern region with 19 out of the country's 36 states is predominantly Muslim, while Christians dominate the south.