Abuja sets curfew to discourage Boko Harm

Following recent attacks on government buildings by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram a curfew has been imposed on Nigeria's capital city of Abuja. Under the curfew all public venues such as bars, clubs and cinemas will be shut by 22:00 local time (21:00 GMT).

Speaking about the decision, Abuja's administration spokesman said: "These measures are necessitated by the need to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the federal capital territory [in light of] the prevailing security concerns."

Boko Haram's activates have become more frequent in the last couple of months; just two weeks ago eight people were killed when the group attacked police headquarters in Abuja. On Sunday 26th June, a bomb attack on a beer garden in Maiduguri killed 25 and later another 10 people when a car bomb exploded in the city centre.

The group voiced disapproval back in May about the way Nigeria is being run and staged attacks at President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration ceremony. Boko Haram has also taken responsibility for several other explosions in Abuja, and other States. In a statement, about the police HQ attack, the group said: “We are responsible for the bomb attack on the police headquarters in Abuja which was to prove a point to all those who doubt our capability.”

Boko haram has killed dozens of people across the country but mainly in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, where the group is based.

Sources: BBC News, The African Report, Reuters

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