Nigeria Police Free Over 180 Hostages from Islamist Sect

World | July 29, 2009, Wednesday // 14:53|  views

Police rescued the hostages in Maiduguri, where heavy fighting continues between troops and militants of the Boko Haram sect. Photo by abc.net.au

Police in Nigeria have freed more than 180 women and children from a house in the north of the country where they had been held by a radical Islamist sect.

They told officials that they were held for six days and lived on dates and water, the BBC reported.

They were rescued in Maiduguri, where heavy fighting continues between troops and militants of the Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram is blamed for attacks on police stations and government sites in northern Nigeria, triggering violence that has killed at least 150 people.

The women and children were said to have been abducted from the town of Bauchi, where the violence erupted on Sunday. Boko Haram is led by Mohammed Yusuf, who has his base in Maiduguri, capital of Borno province.

Security forces flooded into Maiduguri and began attacking Mohammed Yusuf's compound on Tuesday, shelling it with heavy weapons and exchanging gunfire with militants.

The fierce fighting continued through the night and into Wednesday.

The officer commanding the operation, Col Ben Ahanotu, said the militants were well-armed and keeping up a steady stream of fire.

He said there were at least 250 armed men guarding Mohammed Yusuf's home, also the headquarters of the sect.

 

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Tags: Nigeria, police, Hostages, Boko Haram, Islamist sect

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