16 Boko Haram Militants Killed by Nigeria security forces
President Goodluck Jonathan has faced serious challenges from the armed terrorist insurrection by Boko Haram that is seeking to establish an islamic Sharia state in Nigeria.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/16-Boko-Haram-M...
"Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attempted to open fire on [security] operatives but could not succeed. We have so far shot dead 16 of the terrorists during a shoot-out," field operations officer for northeastern Borno state, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, told Nigeria's Business Day.
According to witnesses in Maiduguri, a Boko Haram stronghold, the Nigerian government Joint Task Force (JTF) prepared for Tuesday's battle by sending in tanks to surround a suspected Boko Haram hideout, in the process taking over four neighborhoods and sending residents fleeing from their homes.
The subsequent gun battle lasted over three hours,according to the Daily Trust, and reports said that civilians had been hit by stray bullets.
In a separate attack on Tuesday night, suspected Boko Haram members killed three police officers,one of whom was retired, in the city of Kano.
Boko Haram which seeks to instal a sharia state in Nigeria, targets government officials, police stations,civilians churches and has killed more than 1,000 people in the past three years, including more than 500 people in the first five months of 2012.
The site of Tuesday's battle was the same place where Boko Haram members beheaded two civilians and killed a police officer earlier this year.
Boko Haram is finding support from outside, particularly from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Norh Africa.
TheUnited States State Department has also expressed concern about Boko Haram links with Al Qaeda in Yemen and parts of East Africa.
The fact that more Boko Haram militants are being captured or killed in Nigeria is however seen as encouraging.
Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns said on Monday that the U.S was "ready to explore a potential partnership with the Nigerian army to build its civil affairs capacity."
"We are all disturbed by the repeated scenes of violence in various parts of Nigeria, which threaten to undercut the gains Nigeria has made," Burns said, according to Nigerian's The Nation. "Violent extremist militants like those associated with Boko Haram offer no practical program to improve the lives of Nigerians. They depend on resentment and neglect."
According to witnesses in Maiduguri, a Boko Haram stronghold, the Nigerian government Joint Task Force (JTF) prepared for Tuesday's battle by sending in tanks to surround a suspected Boko Haram hideout, in the process taking over four neighborhoods and sending residents fleeing from their homes.
The subsequent gun battle lasted over three hours,according to the Daily Trust, and reports said that civilians had been hit by stray bullets.
In a separate attack on Tuesday night, suspected Boko Haram members killed three police officers,one of whom was retired, in the city of Kano.
Boko Haram which seeks to instal a sharia state in Nigeria, targets government officials, police stations,civilians churches and has killed more than 1,000 people in the past three years, including more than 500 people in the first five months of 2012.
The site of Tuesday's battle was the same place where Boko Haram members beheaded two civilians and killed a police officer earlier this year.
Boko Haram is finding support from outside, particularly from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Norh Africa.
TheUnited States State Department has also expressed concern about Boko Haram links with Al Qaeda in Yemen and parts of East Africa.
The fact that more Boko Haram militants are being captured or killed in Nigeria is however seen as encouraging.
Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns said on Monday that the U.S was "ready to explore a potential partnership with the Nigerian army to build its civil affairs capacity."
"We are all disturbed by the repeated scenes of violence in various parts of Nigeria, which threaten to undercut the gains Nigeria has made," Burns said, according to Nigerian's The Nation. "Violent extremist militants like those associated with Boko Haram offer no practical program to improve the lives of Nigerians. They depend on resentment and neglect."
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/16-Boko-Haram-M...