Nigerian authorities imposed a curfew in town northern the country following reported clashes between Christian and Muslim groups on Thursday night. The curfew was slapped in the northern town of Bauchi to prevent further sectarian clashes that reportedly erupted on the backdrop of rumors that a Christian man defamed Prophet Muhammad. More rumors about the death of five Christians and the burning of a church and Christian houses in the town fueled the clashes, eyewitnesses said. On Sunday, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was enforced in Ibbi town, Taraba, after sectarian clashes that killed several people.