Nigeria: Soldiers Capture Five Boko Haram Suspects

Nigerian soldiers, on Friday, raided and destroyed a house and arsenal belonging to suspected Islamist militants, Boko Haram, in the city of Kano.

"Five suspected Islamic militants were arrested in the raid that saw the military seize more than a dozen improvised explosive devices, bomb-making materials, Kalashnikov rifles and machine guns in the building in the Gaida Ajawa district of the city," Ikedichi Iweha, a spokesman for the Joint military Task Force in Kano, said in a statement on Friday.

Kano is increasingly troubled by the Boko Haram sect who are fighting for the Islamisation of Northern Nigeria and avenging the 2009 extra judicial execution of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf.

Last week 25 people were killed and 65 wounded after suspected members of the sect detonated bombs at a busy bus station in Kano's Sabon Gari area.

from allAfrica/Premium Times
29 March 2013

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5 Kidnapped Aid Workers Freed in Niger, 1 Killed

Officials in Niger say five African aid workers who were kidnapped by suspected al-Qaida militants last month have been freed.

The aid groups BEFEN and Health Alert say the workers were freed on Saturday near Niger's border with Mali. They say a sixth worker who had been kidnapped with the group was shot during the abduction and later died from his wounds.

Officials in Niger say the kidnappers are suspected to be Islamist extremists based in Mali, who have been linked to a string of abductions.

Mali plunged into chaos in March after a military coup toppled President Amadou Toure and led to the formation of an interim government.

Militants who seized the country's northern region have been trying to enforce a strict version of Islamic law.

In October, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that clears the way for deployment of forces from the West African bloc ECOWAS. The regional group has proposed sending about 3,000 troops into Mali.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
from VOA News
November 03, 2012

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Nigerian Army: 30 Boko Haram Members Killed in Gunbattle

Nigeria's army says soldiers on Sunday killed 30 suspected Boko Haram members during a gunfight in northeastern Yobe state.

A spokesman says a senior aide to Boko Haram's leader was among those killed. Nigerian soldiers seized a number of weapons including rifles, knives and bows and arrows.

The army says it arrested 10 Boko Haram suspects who it says are helping troops track down other members.

There is no word on any army casualties.

Boko Haram is an Islamic militant group that is trying to set up a strictly conservative Islamic state in Nigeria. Authorities blame the group for killing more than 1,400 people. Churches and police are frequent targets.

from VOA News
October 07, 2012

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