20110606
Xinhua
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Two persons were killed at the weekend in a northeastern town of Nigeria when troops deployed to quell religious extremism clashed with a popular Islamic sect Boko Haram, according to local police.

The two persons were hit by stray bullets in the clash with the members of Boko Haram.

"I think the sect members had attempted to attack the troops and the whole thing went bloody as the troops kept firing them," Christopher, a motor mechanic, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Three other persons were wounded during the attack which occurred at Biu, a remote community predominantly dominated by the Christian natives.

Biu, a colonial settlement, is about 187 km south of Maiduguri, the seat of government in the northeastern state of Nigeria.

But while the shooting at Biu between the troops and the Boko Haram lasted, some miscreants were said to have set ablaze two local assemblies of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) at Gwoza, another remote town following alleged homosexual act by two men.

Gwoza is a small community on the Nigerian-Cameroon border.

According to a resident, the alleged homosexual act was committed by two Christians near a mosque, an act which the residents insisted runs contrary Islamic injunctions and Sharia in the area.

But a police source in Gwoza, claimed only one of the partner in the purported homosexual act is a Christian, adding that the rumor had triggered off violent reaction by some miscreants.

"They went on rampage and burnt two Churches," the police source told Xinhua.

State commissioner of police Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the two incidents to Xinhua but decline to give more details on the killing of the two at Biu.

"The two died as a result of stray bullet but no arrest was made," he said. He promised to investigate the burning of the churches and alleged homosexuality at Gwoza even as he warned against linking of the burning of churches to Boko Haram.