Nigerian military units move into areas of unrest which have reportedly killed at least 38 people in the central and north of the West African country. Nigeria is preparing for national elections in 2011., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
11 Boko Haram militants slain in Nigeria
Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:39AM GMT
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Nigeria's army killed 11 Boko Haram militants during a gun battle at a checkpoint in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on January 28, 2012.
Nigerian troops have killed eleven members of the militant group Boko Haram during a gun battle at a checkpoint in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.
"Eleven BH (Boko Haram) members have been shot dead by the JTF (joint military taskforce) in Maiduguri today, following a shootout with the sect members at a checkpoint in a stop and search operation," field operations officer Colonel Victor Ebhamelehe said on Saturday.
He added, "One member of the sect who was wounded is receiving treatment at the hospital."
The operation came in response to a spate of attacks launched by Boko Haram militants.
Security forces in Africa's top oil producer have struggled to contain Boko Haram, which began as a movement opposed to Western cultural influences.
It has previously said that it wants to create an Islamic state in Nigeria's impoverished mainly Muslim north and has accused the government of torturing and illegally detaining Muslims and raiding Islamic schools.
Gunmen suspected to be affiliated with Boko Haram killed one officer in the northern city of Kano on Friday evening when they opened fire on a police station.
Boko Haram was also blamed for coordinated attacks on Christmas Day at a Catholic Church near the capital Abuja. At least 44 people lost their lives in the attack.
The purported head of Boko Haram, Abubakar Muhammad Shekau, threatened to kill more Nigerian security personnel and kidnap their families in an audio tape recently posted on the Internet.
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