At least 20 people have been died in clashes between security forces and members of a religious sect in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi. Some eyewitnesses said as many as 37 people had been killed.<br/><br/>The fighting came after local people were alarmed by open-air preaching by a religious sect known as Kala Kato, a non-conformist Muslim sect made up of poor tradesmen, labourers and other working people. Such preaching was banned in the State after an uprising by another sect, Boko Haram, earlier this year. Hundreds of people were killed in the subsequent fighting across northern Nigeria.<br/> <br/>The violence began on Sunday morning. A Bauchi State official said that the sect members had gone on the rampage to demand the release of their leader. The sect leader had been arrested in connection with the killings of several Boko Haram members.<br/> <br/><br/> <br/>