Sunday, May 19, 2013

Nigeria Imposes Curfew in Military Campaign


Nigeria's military has imposed a 24-hour curfew in parts of the northeastern city of Maiduguri, as security forces continue to pursue suspected Islamist militants in the region.
The military on Saturday listed more than 10 areas in Maiduguri under curfew.  The armed forces have locked down the city and closed roads.

Maiduguri, the original home of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, is the capital of Borno State.

A Defense Department spokesperson said Saturday the military will continue to battle Boko Haram and "fish out" suspected members in hiding.

Nigerian officials say 10 suspected Boko Haram fighters have been killed and 65 arrested since the military began a massive attack on militants in the north several days ago.

On Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno and the neighboring states of Yobe and Adamawa, following a sharp rise in attacks by Boko Haram.   Jonathan deployed extra troops to the region and authorized security forces to take "all necessary actions" against militants.

Boko Haram has battled the government since 2009 in an effort to impose Islamic law on majority-Muslim northern Nigeria.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram-related violence, including hundreds in government counter-insurgency operations.  

Sources :
http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-imposes-curfew/1663698.html

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