At least 83 Nigerians have been killed in the Central African Republic capital Bangui in the latest wave of sectarian violence following months of political crisis.

 The CAR has been in chaos since rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize in March.

 Fuelled by ethnic rivalries, the conflict has also now become sectarian in nature as Djotodia installed himself as the first Muslim leader in the Christian-majority country, sparking months of bloody clashes between rival fighters.

 A Nigerian community leader resident in Bangui, Muhammad Kalanbai, who spoke to newsmen, said that most of the Nigerians killed in the latest violence were Muslims from the North.

 “As I am speaking to you now, there are 16 bodies of Nigerian Muslims at the Ali Baglo mosque in Bangui, who were not buried because of the violence," said Kalanbai, who is the leader of northern Nigerians living in that country.

 He explained that Just last week over 67 Nigerian Muslims were killed by the supporters of Bozize adding that they are under serious attack.

 CEOAFRICA news gathered that much of the wide-scale violence that has killed hundreds in the last week has eased but reporters in Bangui saw a mosque set on fire, houses looted and cars torched yesterday.

 Kalanbai stated that supporters of Bozize were being given protection by the French forces, instead of restraining them.

 He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to come to their rescue by sending aircraft to bring them back to Nigeria as their lives are in serious danger adding that other African countries, including Cameroon, Chad and Mali, had already sent planes to evacuate their nationals.

 Thousands of Nigerians live in CAR, mainly in the capital Bangui. They are mostly from northern Nigeria, and are involved in diamond mining and trading activities.

 The Federal Government of Nigeria has however said it was unaware of the killing of Nigerians in CAR.

 Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Mr Ode Ogbole, when contacted, said he was not aware of the killings but will contact the Nigerian Central African Republic mission to find out about the report.