Nigeria arrests Boko Haram spokesman

Nigerian officials have said they have arrested the spokesman for the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. A police official told Associated Press news agency, the man known as Abul Qaqa, was arrested in the north eastern city of Maiduguri, Borno state.

Officials are still trying to confirm the identity of the man arrested on Wednesday 1st February. An unnamed officer told Reuters news agency: “We are still taking to him. Since 'Abu Qaqa' is a pseudonym for the Boko Haram spokesman, we want to be sure of who we have with us."

It is estimated that more than 150 people were killed by Boko Haram last month, when a number of co-ordinated explosions were set off near security buildings and passport and immigration offices around the northern city of Kano.

The group wants to overthrow the government and install Islamic law around the country. Boko Haram militants have recently attacked police stations and security officials around the country, also bombing churches and killing many civilians in the process. The most recent attack, however, is said to have been the bloodiest.

Sources: AP, BBC News, Reuters

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