Explosions, gunshots in northeast Nigeria city

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria—Explosions and heavy gunfire echoed Saturday night through a city in northeast Nigeria that's home to a powerful politician, witnesses and officials said, the latest major attack in a region home to a radical Muslim sect.

It wasn't immediately clear if there were any casualties. The attacks began at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (1830 GMT; 1:30 p.m. EST) in the city of Geidam in Nigeria's Yobe state, which sits near the country's arid border with Niger, authorities said.

Witnesses told The Associated Press that many in the city hid inside their homes after the fighting immediately following evening prayers.

"We started hearing a deafening blast -- boom, boom," said witness Grema Umaru, 39. It followed "with sporadic gunshots near the police station."

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/11/26/explosions_gunshots_in_northeast_nigeria_city/

[Little Tich]

1. Boko Haram - Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia
(edit for clarity)

Boko Haram (figuratively, "Western education is a sin") is a Nigerian Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law throughout the whole of Nigeria. The group presently has an undefined structure and chain of command. The official name of the group is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad."

It became known internationally following sectarian violence in Nigeria in 2009. As of 2011 it is thought to be responsible for "increasingly violent and sophisticated attacks", with at least 327 people killed in 2011 through November 6 according to the Associated Press.

Boko Haram use the bomb attacks in Nigeria as a strategy of tension. Its aim is to create tension and division in Nigeria.

Read More:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram

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What an awful bunch of people!