At least 36 killed in shootout with Islamists in northeast Nigerian town

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Reuters

Fighters from Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram stormed the northeastern town of Mainok on Friday, sparking a gun battle that killed at least 36 people and continued into Saturday, two security sources said.

Four civilians were also killed in the remote north of Cameroon in a cross-border attack by Boko Haram militants, according to Cameroon state radio.

Boko Haram has killed thousands over the past five years in its struggle for an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

"Thirteen of the terrorists who came to attack civilians in Mainok market yesterday were killed, some of them fled with gunshots and our colleagues are already on their trail. Unfortunately, 23 civilians died in the attack," one of the sources said.


Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN0HF0GW20140920

[freshwest]

1. Wasn't Boko Haram the same group that attacked Timbuktu a while back? Or was the Somalian faction?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Neither; Timbuktu is in Mali

Islamists in the north of Mali, including many who had been employed by Gaddafi and who left (with their weapons) when he fell, took a large part of the country, including Timbuktu. The French (ex-colonial power) sent troops to support the government and retake much of the territory.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17357122
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/28/mali-timbuktu-library-ancient-manuscripts

While there is some fighting still going on in the area, the government of Mali is now in control of most of the country.

[freshwest]

3. I'm glad to hear of some stability returning, to make the lives of those held captive by the roving

gangs of extremists there, better now.

As we don't have easy access to international news, except from you and dipsydoodle and few others, it is appreciated.

I was unaware of the influence of Gaddafi in that region, and a few other things about the feelings of the UK about him explained by posters from the UK. He has been treated as a victim of the USA and that no action should have been taken against him. You just explained something that justified having a low opinion of him.

Lives being taken abroad, or people beaten into submission to something alien to them, seem to be a little importance. We get outraged about our own nation's covert ops, but we are not unique.