KANO (Nigeria), Oct 14: More than 200 people have been killed in two days of religious clashes in the northern Nigerian city of Kano triggered by protests against U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan, residents said on Sunday.

Most of the killings took place on Saturday night as rival Muslim and Christian gangs rampaged in heavily populated districts on the outskirts of the town despite a night curfew and orders to police to shoot protesters on sight.

One of the worst hit areas was Zangon district, outside the city centre.

“People were slaughtered in Zangon. There cannot be less than 200 killed last night,” said one of many residents ferried in buses under military escort.

“As I speak with you now I can see a body burning in the street,” said a Sabon Gari resident speaking by telephone. “He appears to be a Muslim who strayed into Sabon Gari.”

More killings were reported in the Brigade district adjoining Sabon Gari.

Officials have so far only spoken of “many killed” and have not issued any definitive figure on those killed.

Communal riots over the past two years have claimed hundreds of lives. Nigerian authorities are always keen to play down death figures so as not to provoke an escalation in clashes.

“People are stranded. People are trapped in various locations,” said another resident who spent the night holed up in a city office.

Hard pressed security forces used civilian buses to rush what were reported to be hundreds of injured to hospitals.

Heavily armed soldiers guarded the few churches which held Sunday services, witnesses said. Streets of northern Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre were deserted.

MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS: The federal government of President Olusegun Obasanjo sent reinforcements of soldiers and police to the city from neighbouring states.