Mohammed Yusuf, leader of Boko Haram, was executed while in the custody of the Nigerian authorities. Hundreds have been reported killed in an effort to crush the Islamic movement based in several northern states.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
KANO, NIGERIA Sep 08 2010 12:44
An attack on a prison in northern Nigeria by suspected members of an Islamist sect freed 732 inmates, including members of the extremist group, the state prisons head said on Wednesday.
The state police commissioner also said four people were killed in the attack, including one soldier, one police officer and two residents.
"The prison had 762 inmates at the time of the attack," Bauchi state prison service director Mohammed Ahmed told Agence France-Presse, adding that "732 escaped, leaving 30".
Referring to the sect, he said: "All the Boko Haram suspects on remand have escaped. There were 150 of them."
Police Commissioner Danlami Yar'Adua said authorities were able to re-arrest 20 inmates as well as 11 suspected sect members.
The attack on the Bauchi prison on Tuesday night sparked a fierce gun battle with authorities. Police and military deployments have since locked down the area, residents said.
The sect had launched an uprising in Nigeria's north last year that was put down by military and police in a brutal assault, leaving hundreds dead. -- AFP
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-09-08-attack-on-nigerian-prison-frees-hundreds-of-inmates
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