Africa

7 policemen, civilian killed in Nigeria militant attacks

357928_Nigeria-attackAt least seven police officers and a civilian have been killed after suspected militants attacked a police station, a court and a bank in a town in northern Nigeria, police say.

The attacks were carried out in the town of Gwaram in Jigawa State on Wednesday.

“We lost seven policemen. One civilian was also killed,” said Tamari Yabo, the assistant inspector-general of police in charge of the region.

“The attacks resulted in an hours-long shootout with our men, but they were out-gunned and out-numbered by the terrorists,” Yabo stated.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attacks, but officials often blame members of the Boko Haram militant group for the assaults.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.

On May 15, 2013, the Nigerian army launched an offensive against the militant group a day after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.

Boko Haram — whose name means “Western education is forbidden” — says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

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