Nigerian land clashes kill 67

Police in Nigeria say clashes between Muslims and Christians over land have left at least 67 people dead.

The deaths occurred after Christian Tarok militia attacked Muslim Fulanis in Yelwa town, in the country's central highlands, reports say.

A police spokesman said more bodies might be recovered later.

The latest violence follows months of fighting between Christian farmers and Muslim cattle-herders in the area, which has killed more than 100 people.

Security officers told the BBC they were travelling to the region to assess the situation, but added that the town was now calm.

Assistant commissioner Sotonye Wakama told reporters that he had visited the Muslim town of Yelwa after witnesses fleeing the area had reported an attack late on Sunday.

"We succeeded in removing 67 dead bodies, but we are continuing the search tomorrow [Tuesday] and we might get more," he said.

'Heavens fall'

Mohammed Ahmed, a motorcycle taxi driver from Yelwa, told reporters he had escaped after the town was attacked by a militia unit from the rival Tarok community, who arrived with two jeeps mounted with machine guns.

"It is Tarok men who attacked us," he said.

"If you hear the sound of their guns, you will think that the heavens want to fall. Many women and children were killed. I saw this," he said.

The militia had sealed off most routes out of the town, he said.

Witnesses say more than 100 people were killed in the latest fighting.

In February, 48 Christians were killed by armed Fulanis in Yelwa after they had taken refuge in a church.

Muslim Fulani cattle herders and Christian Tarok farmers have been clashing in central Nigeria for more than two months.

They are fighting mainly over land and cattle. Thousands of people are reported to have fled the fighting.

In 2001 more than 1,000 people died in religious clashes in the Plateau state capital, Jos.