Friday 8 October 2010

Boko Haram suspected of another attack in Maiduguri


A senior politician and a policemen have been shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles in the northern city of Maiduguri. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the militant group Boko Haram. At least 15 people, including ten police officers, have now been killed in the clashes between Boko Haram and the police.

The army has been deployed to the city and motorbikes banned at night to stop the attacks. According to a number of sources no one has been arrested in connection to the shootings since they began in August.

One of the two most recent victims was Alhaji Awana Ngala, a senior politician in the opposition All Nigeria People's Party, the other a local policeman shot outside the house of the speaker of the state's legislature. Several other people were wounded in the attack.

Maiduguri residents live in fear of the attacks despite the fact that Boko Haram only targets government officials and policeman. The clashes between the group and the police started last year, when the Boko Haram attacked a police station in Maiduguri. Most of the people killed were believed to have been supporters of the militant group who is fighting to get Islamic law imposed across Nigeria.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

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