35 killed in Army, Boko Haramclashes in Borno

At least 35 people have been killed
in two separate gun battles
between Nigerian security forces
and Islamist sect Boko Haram in
Borno State, the army said on
Monday.
Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law in
Nigeria’s north, and other spin-off Islamist
groups, had become the biggest threat to the
country’s stability, Reuters reports.
In mid-May, President Goodluck Jonathan
declared a state of emergency and launched an
offensive against the group in its stronghold in
the northeast. The insurgency was initially
weakened but remains active and is stretching
the army.
Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday attacked a
police base in Bama, a town close to the
Cameroon border that has been frequently hit by
violence in recent months.
“Troops have successfully repelled Boko Haram
terrorist attacks on a police base in Bama … on
August 4,” said military spokesman Sagir Musa.
Musa said one policeman and 17 members of
Boko Haram were killed during the fighting, while
two soldiers were injured.
He said four trucks, three motorbikes, dozens of
explosive devices, three rocket-propelled
grenades, 10 AK47 rifles and over 100 rounds of
ammunition were recovered from the Islamists.
Boko Haram members also attacked a military
base in the town of Malam Fatori, triggering a
gun battle that left two soldiers and 15 of its
members dead, Musa said.