For Umar Ahmed, the nightmare began in confusion.

Gunmen arrived late Friday at his school in Kankara, northwestern Nigeria, just as he and his classmates were about to go to bed.

Their first thought was that the men were vigilantes -- civilians who take on a policing role -- "so, we were not scared," the 18-year-old told AFP.

But then, heavy firing started.

"We became terrified. Some of us ran to the perimeter fence trying to escape, while others hid inside."

"They kept shouting we should come back, that they were in the school to rescue us. And most of us came back."

In an operation that left the country reeling, hundreds of students were rounded up that day at the all-boys Government Science secondary school and taken away.

The disappearance was initially blamed on so-called bandits -- criminal groups in the region who for years have terrorised communities by killing and abducting people for ransom.&nbsp;

But on Tuesday, Boko Haram, the dreaded group that kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014, claimed responsibility.

The abduction took place hundreds of miles (kilometres) away from Boko Haram's stronghold in northeast Nigeria, sparking fears of a massive advance in the jihadists' decade-long insurgency.

Lanky and soft-spoken, Ahmad explained how the students were rounded up under a tree, split into three groups and led through the forest.

"We had no footwear," he said, his feet swathed in black socks after they became riddled with thorns.&nbsp;

The teenager said the group trekked for hours, heading towards neighbouring Zamfara state.

"They flogged us with tree branches and the flat side of their machetes," he recalled.

But then came a stroke of luck.

He and a friend were able to hide behind a bush. They waited for complete silence to prevail before they retraced their steps back home to safety.

- Devastated parents -&nbsp;

The government has not immediately reacted to Boko Haram claim or confirmed its authenticity, and the number of missing students remains unclear -- 320 or 333, according to two accounts by officials, while locals in Kankara put it at more than 500.

Among parents of missing students, many said they had long feared an attack, given the grip on the region by criminal gangs.

"Our children told us armed men would come up to the school fence but they never breached the fence... until last Friday," Hauwa'u Isah, mother of an abducted child said.&nbsp;

Around 8,000 people have been killed in the northwest since 2011, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank.

Some doubted the claim of responsibility made by Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, in an audio recording.

"It's a lie," said Abubakar Lawan, father of two abducted children.

"Abubakar Shekau is used to making such lies just to confuse people. I don't trust that, and the situation is not what he said it is."

"Only God knows the truth," Isah said. "All the information we have is that armed men took over the school.

Parents have been gathering at the school daily since the abduction, desperate for any information about the children's fate.

"I was about to leave yesterday evening when a boy who escaped was brought here," Murja Goma, another mother said.

"He said they had no food to eat, that they live on leaves and acacia fruit that their captors pluck from the trees for them."

"We have shed so much tears, our hearts are grieving and we don't even know what to do," the woman said, appealing to the government to rescue the children.

For Umar Ahmed, the nightmare began in confusion. Gunmen arrived late Friday at his school in Kankara, northwestern Nigeria, just as he and his classmates were about to go to bed.

For Umar Ahmed, the nightmare began in confusion. Gunmen arrived late Friday at his school in Kankara, northwestern Nigeria, just as he and his classmates were about to go to bed. Their first thought was that the men were vigilantes -- civilians who take on a policing role -- "so, we were not scared," the 18-year-old told AFP. But then, heavy firing started. "We became terrified. Some of us ran to the perimeter fence trying to escape, while others hid inside." "They kept shouting we should come back, that they were in the school to rescue us. And most of us came back." In an operation that left the country reeling, hundreds of students were rounded up that day at the all-boys Government Science secondary school and taken away. The disappearance was initially blamed on so-called bandits -- criminal groups in the region who for years have terrorised communities by killing and abducting people for ransom. But on Tuesday, Boko Haram, the dreaded group that kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014, claimed responsibility. The abduction took place hundreds of miles (kilometres) away from Boko Haram's stronghold in northeast Nigeria, sparking fears of a massive advance in the jihadists' decade-long insurgency. Lanky and soft-spoken, Ahmad explained how the students were rounded up under a tree, split into three groups and led through the forest. "We had no footwear," he said, his feet swathed in black socks after they became riddled with thorns. The teenager said the group trekked for hours, heading towards neighbouring Zamfara state. "They flogged us with tree branches and the flat side of their machetes," he recalled. But then came a stroke of luck. He and a friend were able to hide behind a bush. They waited for complete silence to prevail before they retraced their steps back home to safety. - Devastated parents - The government has not immediately reacted to Boko Haram claim or confirmed its authenticity, and the number of missing students remains unclear -- 320 or 333, according to two accounts by officials, while locals in Kankara put it at more than 500. Among parents of missing students, many said they had long feared an attack, given the grip on the region by criminal gangs. "Our children told us armed men would come up to the school fence but they never breached the fence... until last Friday," Hauwa'u Isah, mother of an abducted child said. Around 8,000 people have been killed in the northwest since 2011, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank. Some doubted the claim of responsibility made by Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, in an audio recording. "It's a lie," said Abubakar Lawan, father of two abducted children. "Abubakar Shekau is used to making such lies just to confuse people. I don't trust that, and the situation is not what he said it is." "Only God knows the truth," Isah said. "All the information we have is that armed men took over the school. Parents have been gathering at the school daily since the abduction, desperate for any information about the children's fate. "I was about to leave yesterday evening when a boy who escaped was brought here," Murja Goma, another mother said. "He said they had no food to eat, that they live on leaves and acacia fruit that their captors pluck from the trees for them." "We have shed so much tears, our hearts are grieving and we don't even know what to do," the woman said, appealing to the government to rescue the children.

Confusion, terror, then safety: How a boy survived Nigeria's student abduction

A joint rescue operation was launched on Saturday by Nigeria’s police, air force and army, according to the government.

333 students still missing after gunmen attacked school in Nigeria

For more than 5 days, 300+ school boys have been missing in Nigeria. The Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the abductions. Is this a crisis that can be put on the back-burner?

Gravitas: Nigeria Jihadist Crisis

In 2014, at least 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Nigeria by the Boko Haram. The sheer scale of it sparked international outrage. It led to a global campaign. The world united in saying 'bring back our girls'.

The campaign forced the govt of Muhammadu Buhari to act. Some of the girls were rescued by the Nigerian military. But most of them managed to escape on their own.

It has been six years 112 girls are still missing to this day. Their whereabouts are still unknown and parents still await their return. The campaign has faded into disappointment.

However, another one has begun, 'bring back our boys'. More than 300 schoolboys have been abducted. The Boko Haram has once again claimed responsibility. It's been more than five days and the boys are still missing.

Their parents are campaigning for their return. But unlike the last time, the world couldn't be bothered less.

There have been a few obligatory statements, and that's it.

For more than 300 students to be kidnapped by a jihadist group in broad daylight, The incident deserves the urgent attention of the world as it is important to highlight the fears of the parents.

These parents have shown their anger against the inaction of the Nigerian govt led by Muhammadu Buhari.

Zainab Muhammed, mother of an abducted child said: "If this government is just, as they say they are, we want them to rescue our children because they have the capacity to do so but their actions are slow because it is not their children that are involved in the incident. They put us in this situation where both we the parents and grandparents are in absolute confusion. They've stopped us from having peace of mind. We are totally sad."

Marwa Hamza Kankara, who is a parent of a missing boy said: "A child is not only for one person, over 520 children are missing, they all belong to me as a mother, they belong to everyone. I am not only crying for my child but i am crying for all the children."

Hundreds of students have been missing for five days and all the parents have are reassurances from the Nigerian govt.

The govt of Nigeria has been putting out images of Muhammadu Buhari being briefed by officials. They say the president is fully committed to the rescue of the school students. &nbsp;

And this is despite the fact that the kidnappings have happened in the home-state of the Nigerian president, the state of katsina -- in north-west Nigeria.

It had always been plagued by violent bandits. And now the Boko Haram has made inroads in this state by kidnapping innocent students.

Just what is the Nigerian govt doing?...

It was negotiating with the kidnappers, shutting down schools and reinforcing security in vulnerable areas.

Boko haram has made a career out of kidnapping students. The meaning of Boko Haram is -- western education is prohibited and the group is enforcing its will.&nbsp;

Now with 300 children kidnapped, Abuja has been forced to negotiate on the Boko Haram's terms. &nbsp;

In recent years, there has been an influx of Nigerians joining the ranks of Boko Haram. Young boys from poor backgrounds ---- highly susceptible to hate propaganda.

In 2014, at least 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Nigeria by the Boko Haram. The sheer scale of it sparked international outrage. It led to a global campaign. The world united in saying 'bring back our girls'.

In 2014, at least 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Nigeria by the Boko Haram. The sheer scale of it sparked international outrage. It led to a global campaign. The world united in saying 'bring back our girls'. The campaign forced the govt of Muhammadu Buhari to act. Some of the girls were rescued by the Nigerian military. But most of them managed to escape on their own. It has been six years 112 girls are still missing to this day. Their whereabouts are still unknown and parents still await their return. The campaign has faded into disappointment. However, another one has begun, 'bring back our boys'. More than 300 schoolboys have been abducted. The Boko Haram has once again claimed responsibility. It's been more than five days and the boys are still missing. Their parents are campaigning for their return. But unlike the last time, the world couldn't be bothered less. There have been a few obligatory statements, and that's it. For more than 300 students to be kidnapped by a jihadist group in broad daylight, The incident deserves the urgent attention of the world as it is important to highlight the fears of the parents. These parents have shown their anger against the inaction of the Nigerian govt led by Muhammadu Buhari. Zainab Muhammed, mother of an abducted child said: "If this government is just, as they say they are, we want them to rescue our children because they have the capacity to do so but their actions are slow because it is not their children that are involved in the incident. They put us in this situation where both we the parents and grandparents are in absolute confusion. They've stopped us from having peace of mind. We are totally sad." Marwa Hamza Kankara, who is a parent of a missing boy said: "A child is not only for one person, over 520 children are missing, they all belong to me as a mother, they belong to everyone. I am not only crying for my child but i am crying for all the children." Hundreds of students have been missing for five days and all the parents have are reassurances from the Nigerian govt. The govt of Nigeria has been putting out images of Muhammadu Buhari being briefed by officials. They say the president is fully committed to the rescue of the school students. And this is despite the fact that the kidnappings have happened in the home-state of the Nigerian president, the state of katsina -- in north-west Nigeria. It had always been plagued by violent bandits. And now the Boko Haram has made inroads in this state by kidnapping innocent students. Just what is the Nigerian govt doing?... It was negotiating with the kidnappers, shutting down schools and reinforcing security in vulnerable areas. Boko haram has made a career out of kidnapping students. The meaning of Boko Haram is -- western education is prohibited and the group is enforcing its will. Now with 300 children kidnapped, Abuja has been forced to negotiate on the Boko Haram's terms. In recent years, there has been an influx of Nigerians joining the ranks of Boko Haram. Young boys from poor backgrounds ---- highly susceptible to hate propaganda.

More than 300 schoolboys abducted in Nigeria by Boko Haram

The triple threat of conflict, climate change and COVID-19 is driving the crises in nearly all Emergency Watchlist countries, threatening famine in several in 2021.

These countries face the biggest humanitarian crisis in year 2021

In Nigeria, 300 students have been missing since armed bandits raided a govt school. The parents are awaiting the return of their children as pressure mounts on Nigerian President to quell the violence & unrest in his country.

Gravitas: 300 students missing after bandits raid Nigerian school

The attack sparked anger in the largely poor and rural region towards the country’s government, which is under mounting pressure following deepening insecurity.

WION Dispatch: Hundreds of students missing after gunmen attack Nigerian school

Police in southwest Nigeria on Sunday warned foreign nationals to be vigilant days after gunmen kidnapped two Indian workers in the region.

Gunmen seized the two men on Wednesday as they drove out of a pharmaceutical firm in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. They out the rear tyres of their vehicle to force it to stop. 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-jihadists-kill-27-in-attack-in-niger-349563">Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger</a>

State police spokesman Olugbenga Fadeyi said in a statement the force was making a "concerted effort" to find and rescue them but did not say if the kidnappers had made contact with the families.

"All expatriates are advised to be vigilant and be watchful especially during this period," he said.

Security agencies should be alerted about "any suspicious movement around their facilities", he added.

Hundreds of Indian nationals live and work in Nigeria, especially in the pharmaceutical sector.

Kidnapping for ransom targeting foreigners and prominent Nigerians is common in Africa's most populous nation.

The victims are usually released unhurt after ransom payments, but the police rarely confirm any money was paid.

Police in southwest Nigeria on Sunday warned foreign nationals to be vigilant days after gunmen kidnapped two Indian workers in the region. Gunmen seized the two men on Wednesday as they drove out of a pharmaceutical firm in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

Police in southwest Nigeria on Sunday warned foreign nationals to be vigilant days after gunmen kidnapped two Indian workers in the region. Gunmen seized the two men on Wednesday as they drove out of a pharmaceutical firm in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. They out the rear tyres of their vehicle to force it to stop. Also Read | Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger State police spokesman Olugbenga Fadeyi said in a statement the force was making a "concerted effort" to find and rescue them but did not say if the kidnappers had made contact with the families. "All expatriates are advised to be vigilant and be watchful especially during this period," he said. Security agencies should be alerted about "any suspicious movement around their facilities", he added. Hundreds of Indian nationals live and work in Nigeria, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. Kidnapping for ransom targeting foreigners and prominent Nigerians is common in Africa's most populous nation. The victims are usually released unhurt after ransom payments, but the police rarely confirm any money was paid.

Two Indians kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria: Police 

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels.

UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina. the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Government Science School at Kankara late on Friday and engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle, forcing hundreds of students to flee and hide in surrounding bushes and forest.

State governor Aminu Bello Masari who visited the school on Saturday said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages.

"Soldiers are currently in the bushes fighting the bandits. We will do all we can to ensure all the abducted children are reclaimed," he said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-jihadists-kill-27-in-attack-in-niger-349563">Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger</a>

National police spokesman Frank Mbas said "additional operational and investigative assets to support the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kankara," had been deployed.

Masari said it was still not clear how many students were "in the hands of the bandits" and how many had managed to escape.

"The school has a population of 839 and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students," Masari told a federal government delegation in his office on Sunday.

"We are still counting because more are still coming out of the forest," said the governor.

"Up till this moment, no one can give a precise figure of the children abducted", he said, adding that students who escaped confirmed some of their colleagues were taken.

Masari directed the school to take a headcount of the students to determine those who went back home.&nbsp;

'Cowardly bandits'

Osama Aminu Maale was one of the students who escaped the abductors and returned to his parents.

"There were a total of 520 of us that were taken by the gunmen from the school," the 18-year old student, told AFP on the phone.&nbsp;

"After they took us away we stopped inside the bus where they made the older students take a headcount. We counted 520," he said.&nbsp;

The hostages were split into groups and before Maale and four others escaped.

"One of the gunmen hit me repeatedly when I failed to keep up with the rest of the group due to my failing health before he let me trail behind, giving me the chance to escape", he said.

Since the attack, all secondary schools in the state have been shut.

UNICEF in a statement on Sunday said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms this brutal attack and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families".

The global children body said it was "deeply concerned about these acts of violence."

"Attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights. This is a grim reminder that abductions of children and widespread grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in northern Nigeria."

UNICEF however commended the Nigerian government for deploying security forces to rescue the students.

Buhari on Saturday urged security forces to arrest the gunmen.

"I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits' attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara. Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured," he said.

Katsina is among several areas in northwest Nigeria that have been repeatedly attacked by "bandits" who kidnap for ransom and rustle cattle.

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels. UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina.

Nigerian authorities on Sunday stepped up efforts to rescue students abducted by armed men who raided their hostels. UN children agency UNICEF condemned the assault on the school in Katsina. the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Government Science School at Kankara late on Friday and engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle, forcing hundreds of students to flee and hide in surrounding bushes and forest. State governor Aminu Bello Masari who visited the school on Saturday said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages. "Soldiers are currently in the bushes fighting the bandits. We will do all we can to ensure all the abducted children are reclaimed," he said. Also Read | Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger National police spokesman Frank Mbas said "additional operational and investigative assets to support the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kankara," had been deployed. Masari said it was still not clear how many students were "in the hands of the bandits" and how many had managed to escape. "The school has a population of 839 and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students," Masari told a federal government delegation in his office on Sunday. "We are still counting because more are still coming out of the forest," said the governor. "Up till this moment, no one can give a precise figure of the children abducted", he said, adding that students who escaped confirmed some of their colleagues were taken. Masari directed the school to take a headcount of the students to determine those who went back home. 'Cowardly bandits' Osama Aminu Maale was one of the students who escaped the abductors and returned to his parents. "There were a total of 520 of us that were taken by the gunmen from the school," the 18-year old student, told AFP on the phone. "After they took us away we stopped inside the bus where they made the older students take a headcount. We counted 520," he said. The hostages were split into groups and before Maale and four others escaped. "One of the gunmen hit me repeatedly when I failed to keep up with the rest of the group due to my failing health before he let me trail behind, giving me the chance to escape", he said. Since the attack, all secondary schools in the state have been shut. UNICEF in a statement on Sunday said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms this brutal attack and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families". The global children body said it was "deeply concerned about these acts of violence." "Attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights. This is a grim reminder that abductions of children and widespread grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in northern Nigeria." UNICEF however commended the Nigerian government for deploying security forces to rescue the students. Buhari on Saturday urged security forces to arrest the gunmen. "I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits' attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara. Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured," he said. Katsina is among several areas in northwest Nigeria that have been repeatedly attacked by "bandits" who kidnap for ransom and rustle cattle.

Nigeria steps up rescue efforts for abducted students

Hundreds of students missing in north western Nigeria's Katsina state, after a raid by a gunmen. According to sources gunmen storm government secondary school in the region

Attackers kidnap hundreds of students in Nigeria

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region. Many others are wounded. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Witnesses and other officials confirmed the attack, which came as municipal and regional elections went ahead across the country.

On November 28, Boko Haram terrorists <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-kills-at-least-43-farm-workers-in-nigeria-346154">struck in Nigeria</a>. Around 30 of the men were beheaded in the attack in the village of Zabarmari.

"Some victims were killed or wounded by bullets, others were burnt inside their houses, consumed by the flames of an enormous fire set by the attackers," said an&nbsp;official.

Between 800 and 1,000 houses, the central market and numerous vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he added.

Roughly 70 attackers arrived at Toumour at around 1745 GMT on foot, having swum across Lake Chad, said the official. The attack itself lasted three hours.

"They first attacked the residence of the traditional chief, who only just managed to escape," he said.

"It was an attack of unprecedented savagery," said a local elected official who asked not to be named. "Nearly 60 percent of the village has been destroyed."

(With agency inputs)

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region.

In another horrific attack in recent weeks, Boko Haram Jihadists killed at least 27 people in an attack in Niger. The attack took place overnight in the village of Toumour in Difffa region. Many others are wounded. Witnesses and other officials confirmed the attack, which came as municipal and regional elections went ahead across the country. On November 28, Boko Haram terrorists struck in Nigeria. Around 30 of the men were beheaded in the attack in the village of Zabarmari. "Some victims were killed or wounded by bullets, others were burnt inside their houses, consumed by the flames of an enormous fire set by the attackers," said an official. Between 800 and 1,000 houses, the central market and numerous vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he added. Roughly 70 attackers arrived at Toumour at around 1745 GMT on foot, having swum across Lake Chad, said the official. The attack itself lasted three hours. "They first attacked the residence of the traditional chief, who only just managed to escape," he said. "It was an attack of unprecedented savagery," said a local elected official who asked not to be named. "Nearly 60 percent of the village has been destroyed." (With agency inputs)

Boko Haram Jihadists kill 27 in attack in Niger

Hundreds of students missing in north western Nigeria's Katsina state, after a raid by a gunmen. According to sources gunmen storm government secondary school in the region. Local Police has say that the school was attacked by the bandits who use AK-47 Rifles

Gunmen raid Nigerian school, nearly 400 students feared missing

Hundreds of students have been missing ever since bandits, armed with assault rifles, attacked a secondary school in Nigeria's northwestern Katsina state late on Friday.

The gunmen stormed the Government Science secondary school in Kankara district at about 9.40 pm on Friday, and police at the scene returned fire, allowing some students to run for safety, police spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement.

Police said they were working with the army and air force to determine how many pupils were missing or kidnapped, and to find them. One officer was shot and wounded in the exchange of fire with the gang.

According to Reuters, there were chaotic scenes at the school on Saturday as desperate parents and security personnel gathered to search for roughly half of the school's 800 students who were still missing.

Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, is plagued by violent bandits who regularly attack locals and kidnap for ransom. Attacks by Islamist militants are common in northeastern parts of the country.

Violence and insecurity across Nigeria have enraged citizens, particularly after scores of farmers were killed, some beheaded, by Islamist militants in northeast Borno state late last month.

Buhari, who arrived on Friday for a week in his home village some 200 km (125 miles) from Kankara, was scheduled to brief the national assembly on the security situation last week, but cancelled the appearance without official explanation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the Katsina incident, and the area is far from Boko Haram’s usual area of operation in the northeast.

Hundreds of students have been missing ever since bandits, armed with assault rifles, attacked a secondary school in Nigeria's northwestern Katsina state late on Friday.

Hundreds of students have been missing ever since bandits, armed with assault rifles, attacked a secondary school in Nigeria's northwestern Katsina state late on Friday. The gunmen stormed the Government Science secondary school in Kankara district at about 9.40 pm on Friday, and police at the scene returned fire, allowing some students to run for safety, police spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement. Police said they were working with the army and air force to determine how many pupils were missing or kidnapped, and to find them. One officer was shot and wounded in the exchange of fire with the gang. According to Reuters, there were chaotic scenes at the school on Saturday as desperate parents and security personnel gathered to search for roughly half of the school's 800 students who were still missing. Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, is plagued by violent bandits who regularly attack locals and kidnap for ransom. Attacks by Islamist militants are common in northeastern parts of the country. Violence and insecurity across Nigeria have enraged citizens, particularly after scores of farmers were killed, some beheaded, by Islamist militants in northeast Borno state late last month. Buhari, who arrived on Friday for a week in his home village some 200 km (125 miles) from Kankara, was scheduled to brief the national assembly on the security situation last week, but cancelled the appearance without official explanation. No group has claimed responsibility for the Katsina incident, and the area is far from Boko Haram’s usual area of operation in the northeast.

Hundreds of students feared abducted after attack on Nigeria school

Voters in the poor West African country of Niger cast ballots Sunday in municipal and regional polls two weeks ahead of a presidential election which the incumbent, Mahamadou Issoufou, will not contest because his two terms are up.

The ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) is the overwhelming favourite in Sunday's poll and its presidential candidate Mohamed Bazoum is the runaway frontrunner in the December 27 ballot.

Some 7.4 million people are eligible to vote in the long-delayed polls in the country's 266 municipalities.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/executed-nigerian-farmers-were-caught-between-boko-haram-and-the-army-349161">&nbsp;Executed Nigerian farmers were caught between Boko Haram and the Army</a>

Many parts of the Sahel country's west and southeast have suffered repeated jihadists attacks since 2015, preventing people from registering to vote, according to the national electoral commission CENI.

Polls close at six pm (1700 GMT).

Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 and 2016, has won praise for his decision to step aside for a successor, unlike some counterparts on the continent who have pushed through constitutional changes in order to extend their presidencies.

The election should mark the first peaceful transfer of power in the history of the coup-prone former French colony.

Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister under Issoufou, is among 30 candidates in the race.

Last month Niger's constitutional court blocked main opposition leader Hama Amadou, 70, from running over a 2017 conviction for baby-smuggling, a case he claimed was politically motivated.

Voters in the poor West African country of Niger cast ballots Sunday in municipal and regional polls two weeks ahead of a presidential election which the incumbent, Mahamadou Issoufou, will not contest because his two terms are up.

Voters in the poor West African country of Niger cast ballots Sunday in municipal and regional polls two weeks ahead of a presidential election which the incumbent, Mahamadou Issoufou, will not contest because his two terms are up. The ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) is the overwhelming favourite in Sunday's poll and its presidential candidate Mohamed Bazoum is the runaway frontrunner in the December 27 ballot. Some 7.4 million people are eligible to vote in the long-delayed polls in the country's 266 municipalities. Also read| Executed Nigerian farmers were caught between Boko Haram and the Army Many parts of the Sahel country's west and southeast have suffered repeated jihadists attacks since 2015, preventing people from registering to vote, according to the national electoral commission CENI. Polls close at six pm (1700 GMT). Issoufou, who was elected in 2011 and 2016, has won praise for his decision to step aside for a successor, unlike some counterparts on the continent who have pushed through constitutional changes in order to extend their presidencies. The election should mark the first peaceful transfer of power in the history of the coup-prone former French colony. Bazoum, 60, a former interior and foreign minister under Issoufou, is among 30 candidates in the race. Last month Niger's constitutional court blocked main opposition leader Hama Amadou, 70, from running over a 2017 conviction for baby-smuggling, a case he claimed was politically motivated.

Niger votes in city, regional polls ahead of presidential ballot

ZABARMARI, Nigeria — For years, the farmers had an agreement with Boko Haram militants: They could tend their fields in peace, as long as they did not report the fighters’ presence to the Nigerian Army.

But just over a week ago, that deal was broken. The Islamic group killed more than 70 farmers from Zabarmari, a village in northeastern Nigeria, residents say. The militants accused the farmers of betraying them.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/at-least-110-dead-in-nigeria-after-suspected-boko-haram-attack-346305/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Everything is shattered now,” said Ibrahim Abubakar, 36.

Four of his friends were beheaded, he said.

People in rural areas of northeast Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have largely been left at the mercy of Boko Haram by a government whose security forces have mainly retreated from the countryside to protected garrison towns.

Villagers are caught in a deadly Catch-22. If they report the militants to Nigerian authorities, they risk gruesome reprisals by Boko Haram, a group known for abducting schoolgirls and killing tens of thousands of people. If they stay silent, they risk the wrath of the Nigerian military, which has been accused of routinely shooting villagers dead and burning their houses down during raids, as well as detaining people for years in inhumane conditions.

In Zabarmari, villagers struggle to eke out a living through subsistence farming and fishing.

“We are accused of being collaborators by both the security operatives and the insurgents, when all we did was” look for peace, said Garbati Sani, a village elder. “What do we do to stay safe?”

Militants came to the farmers as they were working in rice fields Nov. 28 and told the workers that they needed their help with something, several residents said in interviews. Thinking that they were protected by the peace deal, around 50 farmers went with the militants to the nearby village of Koshebe.

But when they arrived, more militants appeared and took most of them into a building where they slit their throats. Later, other bodies were found nearby, bringing the total number of dead to more than 70, villagers said. In addition, the militants abducted about a dozen women from the village.

Boko Haram and its offshoots have terrorized northeastern Nigeria, as well as parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, for more than a decade. When Muhammadu Buhari was elected president in 2015, it was partly on a promise to use his expertise as an army general to resolve the crisis.

Buhari has claimed repeatedly that Boko Haram has been defeated or greatly weakened, and the government has encouraged displaced people to return to their home areas.

But in fact, the military’s strategy of retreating to highly militarized garrison towns — or “supercamps” — has left over 1 million people in rural areas to fend for themselves. And the situation has deteriorated in recent months, so much so that the governor of Borno, which includes Zabarmari and is the country’s worst-affected state, last week called for the federal government to send in mercenaries.

Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015, a year after the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls from the village of Chibok in Borno State. But when in 2016 several Boko Haram commanders split off to form their own faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, the Islamic State group backed them.

It was the Shekau faction, widely considered to be more bloodthirsty than the other group, that claimed the Zabarmari attack, in a video circulated on social media.

“We are the ones that carried out that job,” said the spokesman in the clip, slung with ammunition, his face wrapped in a scarf. “You thought you can arrest one of us, and hand him over to soldiers and expect to stay in peace?”

Residents had alternate theories about what had motivated Boko Haram to carry out the massacre.

One said a member of Boko Haram had come to the village and asked a local woman to cook him some food. She told her neighbors, who tipped off authorities, and the militant was arrested.

Another said that the military had raided Boko Haram’s camp, confiscating a gun and some motorcycles. Yet another said that soldiers had caught a militant on a motorcycle when they were on patrol.

Surviving farmers said that they would return to their fields because there was no way they could eat otherwise. Conflict and other conditions in northeastern Nigeria have made the people there desperately hungry, and the region could face a famine in the next few months if nothing is done, according to the United Nations World Food Program.

Villagers in Zabarmari said that those killed were mostly young men, many of them the breadwinners in their families.

“The elderly were not killed because, according to the insurgents, they don’t have enough blood,” said Idi Musa, a fisherman who sat near the mosque, clutching his prayer beads.

But older people in areas controlled by Boko Haram have suffered abuses, torture and killing that amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, according to a report released by Amnesty International this week.

Many have also had to watch their children and grandchildren die.

On the morning he was killed, one of the farmers, Zakariyau Mohammed, 20, told his father to rest up while he went to the farm.

“I didn’t know it was the last smile I would ever see on his face,” said his father, Sa’adu Mohammed, a tall, slim man in his late 60s, standing outside his modest home of unplastered bricks.

Zakariyau had been a dedicated son, spending all the money he could earn on looking after his family, his father said. He had been planning to get married.

“He was everything I felt proud of,” Mohammed said.

ZABARMARI, Nigeria — For years, the farmers had an agreement with Boko Haram militants: They could tend their fields in peace, as long as they did not report the fighters’ presence to the Nigerian Army.

ZABARMARI, Nigeria — For years, the farmers had an agreement with Boko Haram militants: They could tend their fields in peace, as long as they did not report the fighters’ presence to the Nigerian Army. But just over a week ago, that deal was broken. The Islamic group killed more than 70 farmers from Zabarmari, a village in northeastern Nigeria, residents say. The militants accused the farmers of betraying them. Watch | “Everything is shattered now,” said Ibrahim Abubakar, 36. Four of his friends were beheaded, he said. People in rural areas of northeast Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have largely been left at the mercy of Boko Haram by a government whose security forces have mainly retreated from the countryside to protected garrison towns. Villagers are caught in a deadly Catch-22. If they report the militants to Nigerian authorities, they risk gruesome reprisals by Boko Haram, a group known for abducting schoolgirls and killing tens of thousands of people. If they stay silent, they risk the wrath of the Nigerian military, which has been accused of routinely shooting villagers dead and burning their houses down during raids, as well as detaining people for years in inhumane conditions. In Zabarmari, villagers struggle to eke out a living through subsistence farming and fishing. “We are accused of being collaborators by both the security operatives and the insurgents, when all we did was” look for peace, said Garbati Sani, a village elder. “What do we do to stay safe?” Militants came to the farmers as they were working in rice fields Nov. 28 and told the workers that they needed their help with something, several residents said in interviews. Thinking that they were protected by the peace deal, around 50 farmers went with the militants to the nearby village of Koshebe. But when they arrived, more militants appeared and took most of them into a building where they slit their throats. Later, other bodies were found nearby, bringing the total number of dead to more than 70, villagers said. In addition, the militants abducted about a dozen women from the village. Boko Haram and its offshoots have terrorized northeastern Nigeria, as well as parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, for more than a decade. When Muhammadu Buhari was elected president in 2015, it was partly on a promise to use his expertise as an army general to resolve the crisis. Buhari has claimed repeatedly that Boko Haram has been defeated or greatly weakened, and the government has encouraged displaced people to return to their home areas. But in fact, the military’s strategy of retreating to highly militarized garrison towns — or “supercamps” — has left over 1 million people in rural areas to fend for themselves. And the situation has deteriorated in recent months, so much so that the governor of Borno, which includes Zabarmari and is the country’s worst-affected state, last week called for the federal government to send in mercenaries. Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015, a year after the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls from the village of Chibok in Borno State. But when in 2016 several Boko Haram commanders split off to form their own faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, the Islamic State group backed them. It was the Shekau faction, widely considered to be more bloodthirsty than the other group, that claimed the Zabarmari attack, in a video circulated on social media. “We are the ones that carried out that job,” said the spokesman in the clip, slung with ammunition, his face wrapped in a scarf. “You thought you can arrest one of us, and hand him over to soldiers and expect to stay in peace?” Residents had alternate theories about what had motivated Boko Haram to carry out the massacre. One said a member of Boko Haram had come to the village and asked a local woman to cook him some food. She told her neighbors, who tipped off authorities, and the militant was arrested. Another said that the military had raided Boko Haram’s camp, confiscating a gun and some motorcycles. Yet another said that soldiers had caught a militant on a motorcycle when they were on patrol. Surviving farmers said that they would return to their fields because there was no way they could eat otherwise. Conflict and other conditions in northeastern Nigeria have made the people there desperately hungry, and the region could face a famine in the next few months if nothing is done, according to the United Nations World Food Program. Villagers in Zabarmari said that those killed were mostly young men, many of them the breadwinners in their families. “The elderly were not killed because, according to the insurgents, they don’t have enough blood,” said Idi Musa, a fisherman who sat near the mosque, clutching his prayer beads. But older people in areas controlled by Boko Haram have suffered abuses, torture and killing that amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, according to a report released by Amnesty International this week. Many have also had to watch their children and grandchildren die. On the morning he was killed, one of the farmers, Zakariyau Mohammed, 20, told his father to rest up while he went to the farm. “I didn’t know it was the last smile I would ever see on his face,” said his father, Sa’adu Mohammed, a tall, slim man in his late 60s, standing outside his modest home of unplastered bricks. Zakariyau had been a dedicated son, spending all the money he could earn on looking after his family, his father said. He had been planning to get married. “He was everything I felt proud of,” Mohammed said.

Executed Nigerian farmers were caught between Boko Haram and the Army

Mass murders in Nigeria, an unending conflict in Ethiopia, a soaring Malaria death toll in the Sub-Saharan region & political unrest in South Africa.

Gravitas: Why this is a difficult time for Africa

After one of the deadliest massacres, villagers in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state buried nearly 43 farmers who were killed by suspected Islamist militants.

The villagers dug graves for 43 victims and laid them down, while the local security forces continued their search for dozens of missing villagers.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boko-haram-kills-at-least-43-farm-workers-in-nigeria-346154">Boko Haram kills at least 43 farm workers in Nigeria</a>

As per the initial reports, 30 men were beheaded in the attack and the locals are fearing 70 people dead in the attack that started on Saturday morning in the&nbsp;village of Zabarmari.

No group has claimed the attack, as of now. However, it is being treated as an act by&nbsp;Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province — two groups who have been creating problems in the region in the past few months.

Dozens of mourners surrounded the dead bodies which were placed on wooden pallets and wrapped in white burial shrouds. The villagers chanted prayers for the dead which were led by the clerics.

The villagers were tied up in the&nbsp;agricultural fields and the assailants slit their throats in the village of&nbsp;Koshobe.&nbsp; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the killings and said “the entire country is hurt”.

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This attack came almost a month after the Boko Haram militants&nbsp;slaughtered nearly 22 farmers in two incidents where the farmers were working in fields near&nbsp;Maiduguri.

The UN has estimated that at least 110 people were killed across the Jere local government area of Borno state.

Urging the federal government to deploy more security forces in the region, Borno state governor Babagana Zulum said, "In one side, they stay at home they may be killed by hunger and starvation, on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents."

After one of the deadliest massacres, villagers in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state buried nearly 43 farmers who were killed by suspected Islamist militants. The villagers dug graves for 43 victims and laid them down, while the local security forces continued their search for dozens of missing villagers.

After one of the deadliest massacres, villagers in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state buried nearly 43 farmers who were killed by suspected Islamist militants. The villagers dug graves for 43 victims and laid them down, while the local security forces continued their search for dozens of missing villagers. Also read| Boko Haram kills at least 43 farm workers in Nigeria As per the initial reports, 30 men were beheaded in the attack and the locals are fearing 70 people dead in the attack that started on Saturday morning in the village of Zabarmari. No group has claimed the attack, as of now. However, it is being treated as an act by Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province — two groups who have been creating problems in the region in the past few months. Dozens of mourners surrounded the dead bodies which were placed on wooden pallets and wrapped in white burial shrouds. The villagers chanted prayers for the dead which were led by the clerics. The villagers were tied up in the agricultural fields and the assailants slit their throats in the village of Koshobe. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the killings and said “the entire country is hurt”. × This attack came almost a month after the Boko Haram militants slaughtered nearly 22 farmers in two incidents where the farmers were working in fields near Maiduguri. The UN has estimated that at least 110 people were killed across the Jere local government area of Borno state. Urging the federal government to deploy more security forces in the region, Borno state governor Babagana Zulum said, "In one side, they stay at home they may be killed by hunger and starvation, on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents."

Nigeria: Nearly 43 villagers buried after suspected Boko Haram attack

A horrific attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadist group has claimed 110 lives in northeast Nigeria, said the United Nations. UN's humanitarian coordinator said that this was the "most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year". The attack took in Koshobe, a village near the main city of Maiduguri. The attackers targetted rice field farmers. The tragedy took place on Saturday (November 28)

"At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack," UN's Edward Kallon said in a statement after initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from Saturday's massacre by suspected Boko Haram fighters.

"The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year," Kallon said, adding: "I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice."

Borno Governor Babaganan Umara Zulum attended the burial Sunday in the nearby village of Zabarmari of 43 bodies recovered on Saturday, saying the toll could rise after search operations resumed.

According to a pro-government anti-jihadist media, the attackers tied up agricultural workers and slit their throats.

The victims were among labourers from Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work, it said.&nbsp;

Six were wounded in the attack and eight remained missing as of Saturday.&nbsp;

Kallon, citing "reports that several women may have been kidnapped", called for their immediate release and return to safety.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, saying: "The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings."

The attack took place as voters went to the polls in long-delayed local elections in Borno State. 
The polls had been repeatedly postponed because of an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and a rival dissident faction, ISWAP.

The two groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on loggers, farmers and fishermen whom they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militias.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

A horrific attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadist group has claimed 110 lives in northeast Nigeria, said the United Nations. UN's humanitarian coordinator said that this was the "most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year".

A horrific attack blamed on Boko Haram jihadist group has claimed 110 lives in northeast Nigeria, said the United Nations. UN's humanitarian coordinator said that this was the "most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year". The attack took in Koshobe, a village near the main city of Maiduguri. The attackers targetted rice field farmers. The tragedy took place on Saturday (November 28) "At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack," UN's Edward Kallon said in a statement after initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from Saturday's massacre by suspected Boko Haram fighters. "The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year," Kallon said, adding: "I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice." Borno Governor Babaganan Umara Zulum attended the burial Sunday in the nearby village of Zabarmari of 43 bodies recovered on Saturday, saying the toll could rise after search operations resumed. According to a pro-government anti-jihadist media, the attackers tied up agricultural workers and slit their throats. The victims were among labourers from Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work, it said. Six were wounded in the attack and eight remained missing as of Saturday. Kallon, citing "reports that several women may have been kidnapped", called for their immediate release and return to safety. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, saying: "The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings." The attack took place as voters went to the polls in long-delayed local elections in Borno State. The polls had been repeatedly postponed because of an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and a rival dissident faction, ISWAP. The two groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on loggers, farmers and fishermen whom they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militias. (With AFP inputs)

Nigeria attack blamed on jihadists claims 110 lives

Boko Haram fighters killed at least 43 farm workers and injured six in rice fields near the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Saturday.

The assailants tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats in the village of Koshobe, an anti-jihadist militia told AFP.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack.

The victims were labourers from Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work, said another militiaman Ibrahim Liman who gave the same toll.&nbsp;

Eight others were missing, presumed to have been kidnapped by the jihadists.

The bodies were taken to Zabarmari village, two kilometres away, where they would be kept ahead of burial on Sunday, said resident Mala Bunu who took part in the search and rescue operation.

Last month Boko Haram militants slaughtered 22 farmers&nbsp;working on their irrigation fields near Maiduguri in two separate incidents.

Boko Haram and ISWAP, its IS-linked rival, have increasingly targeted loggers, herders and fishermen in their violent campaign, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local militia fighting them.

At least 36,000 people have been killed in the jihadist conflict, which has displaced around two million since 2009.

Boko Haram fighters killed at least 43 farm workers and injured six in rice fields near the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Saturday. The assailants tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats in the village of Koshobe, an anti-jihadist militia told AFP.

Boko Haram fighters killed at least 43 farm workers and injured six in rice fields near the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Saturday. The assailants tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats in the village of Koshobe, an anti-jihadist militia told AFP. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack. The victims were labourers from Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work, said another militiaman Ibrahim Liman who gave the same toll. Eight others were missing, presumed to have been kidnapped by the jihadists. The bodies were taken to Zabarmari village, two kilometres away, where they would be kept ahead of burial on Sunday, said resident Mala Bunu who took part in the search and rescue operation. Last month Boko Haram militants slaughtered 22 farmers working on their irrigation fields near Maiduguri in two separate incidents. Boko Haram and ISWAP, its IS-linked rival, have increasingly targeted loggers, herders and fishermen in their violent campaign, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local militia fighting them. At least 36,000 people have been killed in the jihadist conflict, which has displaced around two million since 2009.

Boko Haram kills at least 43 farm workers in Nigeria

Nigeria has received a "priceless" terracotta head believed to be at least 600 years old which was smuggled to the Netherlands, the information minister said.

It was taken from southwestern city of Ile-Ife and smuggled through Ghana.&nbsp;

Dutch ambassador to Nigeria Harry Van Dijk on Thursday returned it to Information Minister Lai Mohammed in a ceremony in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

"The smuggler had obtained forged documents" to take it out of the country, Mohammed was quoted as saying in a statement.

Dutch customs intercepted it at Amsterdam airport and "alerted the.. Information and Heritage Inspectorate of the Netherlands to give an opinion," the statement said.

Dutch officials then contacted their Nigerian counterparts, leading to the return of the "priceless and timeless" artefact, Mohammed said.

Hundreds of Nigerian artefacts, including Benin bronzes stolen during pre-colonial and colonial period, are in museums in Europe and the United States.

Mohammed said Nigeria would continue to seek their return.&nbsp;

Nigeria has received a "priceless" terracotta head believed to be at least 600 years old which was smuggled to the Netherlands, the information minister said. It was taken from southwestern city of Ile-Ife and smuggled through Ghana.

Nigeria has received a "priceless" terracotta head believed to be at least 600 years old which was smuggled to the Netherlands, the information minister said. It was taken from southwestern city of Ile-Ife and smuggled through Ghana. Dutch ambassador to Nigeria Harry Van Dijk on Thursday returned it to Information Minister Lai Mohammed in a ceremony in the Nigerian capital Abuja. "The smuggler had obtained forged documents" to take it out of the country, Mohammed was quoted as saying in a statement. Dutch customs intercepted it at Amsterdam airport and "alerted the.. Information and Heritage Inspectorate of the Netherlands to give an opinion," the statement said. Dutch officials then contacted their Nigerian counterparts, leading to the return of the "priceless and timeless" artefact, Mohammed said. Hundreds of Nigerian artefacts, including Benin bronzes stolen during pre-colonial and colonial period, are in museums in Europe and the United States. Mohammed said Nigeria would continue to seek their return.

Nigeria gets back 'priceless' smuggled antique from Netherlands

A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a&nbsp;remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district.

Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday.

"The bandits killed five worshippers and kidnapped 18 others, including the imam," state police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told AFP.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-admits-soldiers-had-live-bullets-at-lekki-toll-gate-protest-344654">Nigeria admits soldiers had live bullets at Lekki Toll Gate protest</a>

The incident happened&nbsp;in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state. While the local police is claiming abduction of 18 worshippers, local residents are disputing the claim and have said more than 30 people have been kidnapped.

"The gunmen attacked the mosque while the imam was delivering the sermon and took away more than 30 people, including the imam, after shooting dead five worshippers," one resident, Ibrahim Altine, told AFP.

This incident has not been a work of the&nbsp;Boko Haram jihadists. This group, reportedly, has no&nbsp;ideological leanings but the terror being spread by the group is increasing on an alarming rate. The government has been trying to bring peace in the region as the gang maintains its camps&nbsp;in the Rugu forest, raiding villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping local residents for ransom and looting food supplies. However, the local authorities have faced to reach a conclusion in the peace talks.

A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district. Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday.

A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district. Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday. "The bandits killed five worshippers and kidnapped 18 others, including the imam," state police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told AFP. Also read| Nigeria admits soldiers had live bullets at Lekki Toll Gate protest The incident happened in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state. While the local police is claiming abduction of 18 worshippers, local residents are disputing the claim and have said more than 30 people have been kidnapped. "The gunmen attacked the mosque while the imam was delivering the sermon and took away more than 30 people, including the imam, after shooting dead five worshippers," one resident, Ibrahim Altine, told AFP. This incident has not been a work of the Boko Haram jihadists. This group, reportedly, has no ideological leanings but the terror being spread by the group is increasing on an alarming rate. The government has been trying to bring peace in the region as the gang maintains its camps in the Rugu forest, raiding villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping local residents for ransom and looting food supplies. However, the local authorities have faced to reach a conclusion in the peace talks.

Five dead, 18 kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria: Police

The Nigerian army has admitted to having in possession both live and blank bullets when they were deployed to protests at Lekki toll gate on October 20. The admission is being seen as a confirmation to a key finding of a CNN investigation into the shooting incident.

"The soldiers were given both live and blank bullets. In this particular case, we saw that these protests had been infiltrated by some hoodlums," Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo said in his testimony to the Lagos Judicial panel of inquiry into the incident.

This is the first time the Nigerian army has admitted having live rounds at the Lekki toll gate.

Nigeria’s security forces reportedly shot dead demonstrators protesting against police brutality in Lagos on October 20 this year, according to several witnesses, as authorities imposed a curfew and promised an investigation.

Nigerian authorities had earlier threatened to sanction CNN for the investigative report that showed soldiers shooting protesters last month at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos. On Thursday, Nigerian authorities responded, saying the CNN report lacked substantial proof, and threatened sanctions.&nbsp;

According to Reuters news agency, soldiers fired at the protesters who had gathered in the Lekki district of Nigeria’s largest city in defiance of an indefinite curfew imposed hours earlier by the authorities.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the army denied any involvement, describing reports of the incident as "fake news," before backtracking and saying that soldiers were present but fired their weapons in the air and used blanks, not live rounds.

The army statement, hence, contradicts previous statements about the incident that said the judicial panel previously that the soldiers were firing in the air and firing blank ammunition.

The CNN investigation included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.

CNN's report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN.

The admission is also yet another in a series of constantly changing narratives as to what happened on October 20 at Lekki toll gate, where protesters had gathered to demonstrate against police brutality.

Lagos is one of five of Nigeria’s 36 states to have announced movement restrictions in the last two days. Protesters pledged to remain on Lagos’s streets regardless.

The protests, organised under the #EndSARS hashtag, began with calls to scrap a notorious police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which has long been accused of extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings.

After days of widespread demonstrations, the authorities announced SARS would be disbanded, ordering all personnel to report to the police headquarters in Abuja for debriefing and psychological and medical examinations.

Officials said SARS would be replaced by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

The announcements did not satisfy the protesters, who saw the changes as nothing but a renaming exercise.

It's not clear how authorities might proceed with sanctions against the broadcaster, but CNN says it is standing by its findings released in the report. &nbsp;

It also says the Nigerian military declined to answer questions before the report was released.

(with inputs)

The Nigerian army has admitted to having in possession both live and blank bullets when they were deployed to protests at Lekki toll gate on October 20. The admission is being seen as a confirmation to a key finding of a CNN investigation into the shooting incident.

The Nigerian army has admitted to having in possession both live and blank bullets when they were deployed to protests at Lekki toll gate on October 20. The admission is being seen as a confirmation to a key finding of a CNN investigation into the shooting incident. "The soldiers were given both live and blank bullets. In this particular case, we saw that these protests had been infiltrated by some hoodlums," Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo said in his testimony to the Lagos Judicial panel of inquiry into the incident. This is the first time the Nigerian army has admitted having live rounds at the Lekki toll gate. Nigeria’s security forces reportedly shot dead demonstrators protesting against police brutality in Lagos on October 20 this year, according to several witnesses, as authorities imposed a curfew and promised an investigation. Nigerian authorities had earlier threatened to sanction CNN for the investigative report that showed soldiers shooting protesters last month at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos. On Thursday, Nigerian authorities responded, saying the CNN report lacked substantial proof, and threatened sanctions. According to Reuters news agency, soldiers fired at the protesters who had gathered in the Lekki district of Nigeria’s largest city in defiance of an indefinite curfew imposed hours earlier by the authorities. In the aftermath of the shooting, the army denied any involvement, describing reports of the incident as "fake news," before backtracking and saying that soldiers were present but fired their weapons in the air and used blanks, not live rounds. The army statement, hence, contradicts previous statements about the incident that said the judicial panel previously that the soldiers were firing in the air and firing blank ammunition. The CNN investigation included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials. CNN's report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. The admission is also yet another in a series of constantly changing narratives as to what happened on October 20 at Lekki toll gate, where protesters had gathered to demonstrate against police brutality. Lagos is one of five of Nigeria’s 36 states to have announced movement restrictions in the last two days. Protesters pledged to remain on Lagos’s streets regardless. The protests, organised under the #EndSARS hashtag, began with calls to scrap a notorious police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which has long been accused of extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings. After days of widespread demonstrations, the authorities announced SARS would be disbanded, ordering all personnel to report to the police headquarters in Abuja for debriefing and psychological and medical examinations. Officials said SARS would be replaced by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. The announcements did not satisfy the protesters, who saw the changes as nothing but a renaming exercise. It's not clear how authorities might proceed with sanctions against the broadcaster, but CNN says it is standing by its findings released in the report. It also says the Nigerian military declined to answer questions before the report was released. (with inputs)

Nigeria admits soldiers had live bullets at Lekki Toll Gate protest

Nigeria has the highest number of children out of school & now due to the pandemic young girls in the country are struggling to remain in school. Watch the report to know more.

Young girls in Nigeria struggle for education

Nigeria’s police chief has ordered the mobilization of all police resources to reclaim public space after more than two weeks of peaceful protests over police brutality gave way to widespread vandalism and looting.

The order came four days after police and soldiers fired on demonstrators, killing 12 and injuring hundreds in an upscale Lagos neighborhood. The protesters are demanding that the government dismantle and discipline a police unit known as SARS, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, which for years has been known for detaining, brutalizing, and stealing from citizens, particularly young people.

Tuesday’s violent crackdown on protesters, combined with a nighttime curfew imposed in its wake and protest leaders urging people to stay home, have largely cleared peaceful demonstrators from the streets of Lagos.

But following the shootings, which outraged Nigerians, at least 17 police stations were destroyed in Lagos, according to a police spokesperson.

Widespread looting has also taken place, including at government warehouses stocked with food. Malls, TV stations and banks have been targeted as well as retail stores in popular shopping districts in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and cultural hub.

“Enough is enough to all acts of lawlessness, disruption of public peace and order and wanton violence, which have resulted in indiscriminate looting of shops, malls and warehouses, damage to property and loss of lives in some parts of the country,” said the police chief, M.A. Adamu, in a statement Saturday.

Additional police units are being deployed to all 36 states, Adamu said. He added that police would “use all legitimate means to halt the further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.”

Violence and looting were also reported in other states.

On Saturday, the governor of the southwestern state of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, imposed a 24-hour curfew “to forestall the breakdown of law and order and protect the lives and property of citizens and residents.”

Dozens have died in the protests against police brutality that started Oct. 8, with 38 killed across the country on Tuesday alone, Amnesty International said. The turmoil has been the worst street violence since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999.

Many of the demonstrators have been middle-class, well-educated young people in the southern and central cities who are too young to remember the military rule that ended two decades ago.

The government has promised to reform the police force in the wake of the protests, but President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticized for not mentioning Tuesday’s shooting and for warning Nigerians against “undermining national security.”

He further inflamed the protesters Friday by saying security forces have exercised “extreme restraint” in handling the situation.

Buhari has said 51 civilians have been killed, along with 11 police officers and seven soldiers since the protests began.

Protesters said the surge in violence this week could damage their peaceful efforts at reform and allow the government to cast the movement as having been hijacked by criminal elements.

“The lootings don’t put us in a good light,” said Chiamaka Ebochue, 27, a protester in Lagos. “We have to take this loss and restrategize. We need to be aware of our voting rights; that’s the only ammunition we have.”

Nigeria’s police chief has ordered the mobilization of all police resources to reclaim public space after more than two weeks of peaceful protests over police brutality gave way to widespread vandalism and looting.

Nigeria’s police chief has ordered the mobilization of all police resources to reclaim public space after more than two weeks of peaceful protests over police brutality gave way to widespread vandalism and looting. The order came four days after police and soldiers fired on demonstrators, killing 12 and injuring hundreds in an upscale Lagos neighborhood. The protesters are demanding that the government dismantle and discipline a police unit known as SARS, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, which for years has been known for detaining, brutalizing, and stealing from citizens, particularly young people. Tuesday’s violent crackdown on protesters, combined with a nighttime curfew imposed in its wake and protest leaders urging people to stay home, have largely cleared peaceful demonstrators from the streets of Lagos. But following the shootings, which outraged Nigerians, at least 17 police stations were destroyed in Lagos, according to a police spokesperson. Widespread looting has also taken place, including at government warehouses stocked with food. Malls, TV stations and banks have been targeted as well as retail stores in popular shopping districts in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and cultural hub. “Enough is enough to all acts of lawlessness, disruption of public peace and order and wanton violence, which have resulted in indiscriminate looting of shops, malls and warehouses, damage to property and loss of lives in some parts of the country,” said the police chief, M.A. Adamu, in a statement Saturday. Additional police units are being deployed to all 36 states, Adamu said. He added that police would “use all legitimate means to halt the further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.” Violence and looting were also reported in other states. On Saturday, the governor of the southwestern state of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, imposed a 24-hour curfew “to forestall the breakdown of law and order and protect the lives and property of citizens and residents.” Dozens have died in the protests against police brutality that started Oct. 8, with 38 killed across the country on Tuesday alone, Amnesty International said. The turmoil has been the worst street violence since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. Many of the demonstrators have been middle-class, well-educated young people in the southern and central cities who are too young to remember the military rule that ended two decades ago. The government has promised to reform the police force in the wake of the protests, but President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticized for not mentioning Tuesday’s shooting and for warning Nigerians against “undermining national security.” He further inflamed the protesters Friday by saying security forces have exercised “extreme restraint” in handling the situation. Buhari has said 51 civilians have been killed, along with 11 police officers and seven soldiers since the protests began. Protesters said the surge in violence this week could damage their peaceful efforts at reform and allow the government to cast the movement as having been hijacked by criminal elements. “The lootings don’t put us in a good light,” said Chiamaka Ebochue, 27, a protester in Lagos. “We have to take this loss and restrategize. We need to be aware of our voting rights; that’s the only ammunition we have.”

As lawlessness roils Nigeria, police chief vows to take back streets

Nigeria's police chief on Saturday ordered mobilisation of resources of the force as authorities searched for a way to control unrest. Africa's most populous country is currently witnessing worst street violence in two decades. Violence in Nigeria's capital Lagos escalated after demonstrators were shot on Tuesday in city's Lekki District. The widespread protests in Nigeria have stemmed from anger against police brutality.

Rights group Amnesty International said soldiers and police had killed at least 12 protesters in two districts, though the army and police denied any involvement.

States mostly in southern Nigeria have imposed curfew after two weeks of clashes between security forces and protesters.&nbsp;

As pockets of unrest flared again on Saturday in parts of the country, a spokesman for southern Cross River state said several buildings had been vandalised over the last two days including a shopping mall, a bank and electoral offices.

Round the clock curfew was imposed in the city of Jos just after it was relaxed on Friday, following the looting of emergency food supplies stored there by the disasters ministry, authorities said.

"This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the state," the governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, said in a statement.

And a round-the-clock curfew was imposed in the northern state of Kaduna on Saturday. The move was to "protect lives and property and contain criminal elements", state security commissioner Samuel Aruwan said in a statement.

The Nigeria Police Force said its inspector general Mohammed Adamu had ordered the immediate deployment of all assets and resources to end violence, looting and destruction of property by criminals masquerading as protesters.

"The IGP enjoins law-abiding citizens not to panic but rather join forces with the police and other members of the law enforcement community to protect their communities from the criminal elements," the force said in a statement.

During a call on Friday between Buhari and former Nigerian presidents, the head of state said 51 civilian fatalities and 37 injuries had been recorded as a result of "hooliganism" in recent weeks, according to a statement released on Saturday outlining his opening remarks.

Unrest escalated in parts of Nigeria after the shooting of the protesters who gathered in Lagos on Tuesday night in defiance of a curfew to demonstrate against police brutality.

Olusegun Samuel, the guardian of one protester who was shot at that demonstration, said on Saturday that the 24-year-old may have his right leg amputated due to a severe wound.

"It is a very painful issue; very, very painful issue. A young boy of his age," said Samuel, speaking at a Lagos hospital.

David Ivwrogbo was working as a truck driver at a railway construction site when the curfew was announced on Tuesday. He said he was not part of the protest, and was trying to reach home when he was also shot in the leg. He said he was dragged to safety by demonstrators.

"The youths are awake and they don't want to go back to sleep," he said, referring to frustrated young people who have taken to Nigeria's streets in the wake of the campaign against police brutality.

Lagos state eased curfew restrictions on Saturday to 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Workers took to streets to sweep away broken glass while cars again filled the roads.

(With Reuters inputs)

Nigeria's police chief on Saturday ordered mobilisation of resources of the force as authorities searched for a way to control unrest. Africa's most populous country is currently witnessing worst street violence in two decades.

Nigeria's police chief on Saturday ordered mobilisation of resources of the force as authorities searched for a way to control unrest. Africa's most populous country is currently witnessing worst street violence in two decades. Violence in Nigeria's capital Lagos escalated after demonstrators were shot on Tuesday in city's Lekki District. The widespread protests in Nigeria have stemmed from anger against police brutality. Rights group Amnesty International said soldiers and police had killed at least 12 protesters in two districts, though the army and police denied any involvement. States mostly in southern Nigeria have imposed curfew after two weeks of clashes between security forces and protesters. As pockets of unrest flared again on Saturday in parts of the country, a spokesman for southern Cross River state said several buildings had been vandalised over the last two days including a shopping mall, a bank and electoral offices. Round the clock curfew was imposed in the city of Jos just after it was relaxed on Friday, following the looting of emergency food supplies stored there by the disasters ministry, authorities said. "This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the state," the governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, said in a statement. And a round-the-clock curfew was imposed in the northern state of Kaduna on Saturday. The move was to "protect lives and property and contain criminal elements", state security commissioner Samuel Aruwan said in a statement. The Nigeria Police Force said its inspector general Mohammed Adamu had ordered the immediate deployment of all assets and resources to end violence, looting and destruction of property by criminals masquerading as protesters. "The IGP enjoins law-abiding citizens not to panic but rather join forces with the police and other members of the law enforcement community to protect their communities from the criminal elements," the force said in a statement. During a call on Friday between Buhari and former Nigerian presidents, the head of state said 51 civilian fatalities and 37 injuries had been recorded as a result of "hooliganism" in recent weeks, according to a statement released on Saturday outlining his opening remarks. Unrest escalated in parts of Nigeria after the shooting of the protesters who gathered in Lagos on Tuesday night in defiance of a curfew to demonstrate against police brutality. Olusegun Samuel, the guardian of one protester who was shot at that demonstration, said on Saturday that the 24-year-old may have his right leg amputated due to a severe wound. "It is a very painful issue; very, very painful issue. A young boy of his age," said Samuel, speaking at a Lagos hospital. David Ivwrogbo was working as a truck driver at a railway construction site when the curfew was announced on Tuesday. He said he was not part of the protest, and was trying to reach home when he was also shot in the leg. He said he was dragged to safety by demonstrators. "The youths are awake and they don't want to go back to sleep," he said, referring to frustrated young people who have taken to Nigeria's streets in the wake of the campaign against police brutality. Lagos state eased curfew restrictions on Saturday to 6 p.m.-8 a.m. Workers took to streets to sweep away broken glass while cars again filled the roads. (With Reuters inputs)

Nigeria: Mobilisation of all police resources ordered as authorities scramble to control street violence

Shops lifted their shutters and market traders set out their stalls Saturday, as Nigeria's biggest city Lagos cautiously reopened after a curfew was eased following days of unrest.&nbsp;

Streets in the centre of the economic hub were still largely deserted after the local governor said people would now be allowed out between 8am and 6pm.&nbsp;

Market vendors said they were waiting for deliveries and had few goods to sell, while the shops and restaurants that had reopened were mainly empty.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-12-killed-in-nigeria-protest-shootings-336976">Also read|&nbsp;At least 12 killed in Nigeria protest shootings</a>

Lagos has been rocked by days of chaos since the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces in the city on Tuesday.

Police stations were burnt, supermarkets looted and vehicles destroyed as violence flared across the economic hub of 20 million, with officials accusing "hoodlums" of taking advantage of the mayhem.

"Our beautiful city has seen a level of destruction almost akin to a war zone," governor Babijide Sanwo-Olu wrote on Twitter. &nbsp;

"Enough is enough. We want peace and we will get peace." &nbsp;

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Lagos belongs to us all. No other state has this unique combination of people living in peace, harmony and progress so it saddened me when I went round for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the level of destruction to public assets and private properties.
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) <a href="https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1319724014273703936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Peaceful demonstrations against police brutality erupted in Nigeria on October 8 and quickly spiralled into one of the biggest challenges to the ruling elite in decades.

Amnesty International has said at least 12 protesters were gunned down by the army and police in Lagos on Tuesday, and a total of 56 people have died since the demonstrations began.

Sanwo-Olu said a judicial panel that would probe the shooting of demonstrators in downtown Lagos would start work on Monday.

Lagos has been under a round-the-clock lockdown since Tuesday, with the military sent out onto the streets to help quell the unrest.

An AFP journalist reported a far lighter police presence on streets in the centre of the city on Saturday.

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Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has called for an end to the protests and warned demonstrators not to "undermine national security".

He has not directly addressed the shooting of protesters in Lagos and sought to shrug off international outrage over the use of excessive force by his security agencies.

Shops lifted their shutters and market traders set out their stalls Saturday, as Nigeria's biggest city Lagos cautiously reopened after a curfew was eased following days of unrest.

Shops lifted their shutters and market traders set out their stalls Saturday, as Nigeria's biggest city Lagos cautiously reopened after a curfew was eased following days of unrest. Streets in the centre of the economic hub were still largely deserted after the local governor said people would now be allowed out between 8am and 6pm. Market vendors said they were waiting for deliveries and had few goods to sell, while the shops and restaurants that had reopened were mainly empty. Also read| At least 12 killed in Nigeria protest shootings Lagos has been rocked by days of chaos since the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces in the city on Tuesday. Police stations were burnt, supermarkets looted and vehicles destroyed as violence flared across the economic hub of 20 million, with officials accusing "hoodlums" of taking advantage of the mayhem. "Our beautiful city has seen a level of destruction almost akin to a war zone," governor Babijide Sanwo-Olu wrote on Twitter. "Enough is enough. We want peace and we will get peace." Lagos belongs to us all. No other state has this unique combination of people living in peace, harmony and progress so it saddened me when I went round for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the level of destruction to public assets and private properties. — Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 23, 2020 × Peaceful demonstrations against police brutality erupted in Nigeria on October 8 and quickly spiralled into one of the biggest challenges to the ruling elite in decades. Amnesty International has said at least 12 protesters were gunned down by the army and police in Lagos on Tuesday, and a total of 56 people have died since the demonstrations began. Sanwo-Olu said a judicial panel that would probe the shooting of demonstrators in downtown Lagos would start work on Monday. Lagos has been under a round-the-clock lockdown since Tuesday, with the military sent out onto the streets to help quell the unrest. An AFP journalist reported a far lighter police presence on streets in the centre of the city on Saturday. × Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has called for an end to the protests and warned demonstrators not to "undermine national security". He has not directly addressed the shooting of protesters in Lagos and sought to shrug off international outrage over the use of excessive force by his security agencies.

Lagos curfew eases after days of unrest in Nigeria

Anti-police protesters in Nigeria are being met with more police brutality. On Monday, security forces opened fire at a toll gate near Lagos - killing at least 12 protesters. Is the situation slipping out of President M Buhari's hands? WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Unrest spreads after shooting of protesters in Nigeria

At least 12 people have been killed and 28 others injured after soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality.

Buildings in Nigeria's main city of Lagos were torched and sporadic clashes erupted after the shooting of the protesters.

Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on Oct. 11 but the protests have persisted with demonstrators calling for a raft of law enforcement reforms.

Nigeria's military, however, denied responsibility for the Lekki shootings, posting a tweet that labelled several reports as fake news.&nbsp;

In a Twitter post, the Nigerian Army said no soldiers were at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night in Lekki, an upmarket district where the toll gate has been the site of daily protests in Lagos, Africa's biggest city.

President Muhammadu Buhari — who has said little about the protests engulfing his country— did not mention the Lekki shootings but in a statement, Wednesday issued a call for calm and vowed police reforms.

Buhari''s statement said the dissolution of the SARS unit “is the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a police system accountable to the Nigerian people,” and said his government is committed to “the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria.” Nigeria''s spiralling crisis has drawn international attention, including from U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden who denounced the shootings.

“I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths,” wrote Biden. “My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence. The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.” Beyoncé said she is “heartbroken to see the senseless brutality taking place in Nigeria,” on Instagram. Former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also condemned the violence.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 12 people have been killed and 28 others injured after soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality. Buildings in Nigeria's main city of Lagos were torched and sporadic clashes erupted after the shooting of the protesters.

At least 12 people have been killed and 28 others injured after soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality. Buildings in Nigeria's main city of Lagos were torched and sporadic clashes erupted after the shooting of the protesters. Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on Oct. 11 but the protests have persisted with demonstrators calling for a raft of law enforcement reforms. Nigeria's military, however, denied responsibility for the Lekki shootings, posting a tweet that labelled several reports as fake news. In a Twitter post, the Nigerian Army said no soldiers were at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night in Lekki, an upmarket district where the toll gate has been the site of daily protests in Lagos, Africa's biggest city. President Muhammadu Buhari — who has said little about the protests engulfing his country— did not mention the Lekki shootings but in a statement, Wednesday issued a call for calm and vowed police reforms. Buhari''s statement said the dissolution of the SARS unit “is the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a police system accountable to the Nigerian people,” and said his government is committed to “the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria.” Nigeria''s spiralling crisis has drawn international attention, including from U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden who denounced the shootings. “I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths,” wrote Biden. “My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence. The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.” Beyoncé said she is “heartbroken to see the senseless brutality taking place in Nigeria,” on Instagram. Former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also condemned the violence. (With inputs from agencies)

At least 12 killed in Nigeria protest shootings

Soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality in the Lekki district of the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday, and at least two people were shot, four witnesses told Reuters.

Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on Oct. 11 but the protests have persisted with demonstrators calling for a raft of law enforcement reforms.

"They started firing ammunition toward the crowd. They were firing into the crowd," said Alfred Ononugbo, 55, a security officer after the soldiers opened fire. "I saw the bullet hit one or two persons," he said.

The condition of those two people was not immediately known. Amnesty International has said at least 15 people had been killed since the protests began.

In a Twitter post, the Nigerian Army said no soldiers were at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night in Lekki, an upmarket district where the toll gate has been the site of daily protests in Lagos, Africa's biggest city.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted pictures of him visiting people in hospital who were victims of what he referred to as the "unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki".

He said 25 people were being treated for mild to moderate injuries, two were receiving intensive care and three had been discharged.

"As the Governor of our state, I recognise the buck stops at my table and I will work with the FG (federal government) to get to the root of this unfortunate incident and stabilise all security operations to protect the lives of our residents," said Sanwo-Olu, adding that he would give a state broadcast on Wednesday morning.

The Lagos state government earlier said it would open an investigation into the shooting, which witnesses said began at about 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).

A Nigerian army spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Inyene Akpan, 26, a photographer, said more than 20 soldiers arrived at the toll gate in Lekki and opened fire. He said he saw two people being shot.

Akinbosola Ogunsanya, a third witness, said he saw around 10 people being shot. Ogunsanya, who said lights went out shortly before the soldiers arrived, also said he saw soldiers remove bodies.

Another witness, Chika Dibia, said soldiers hemmed in people as they shot at them.

Video verified by Reuters showed men walking slowly in formation toward demonstrators, followed by trucks with flashing lights, and the sound of gunfire popping. Another video showed the toll gate itself, with a protester waving a Nigerian flag, as people ran amid the sounds of gunfire.

A Reuters witness heard sirens and gunfire.

Defence meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday held scheduled talks with the defence minister and the chief of defence staff around 6:15 p.m. (1715 GMT) to discuss national security, two presidency officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for the president did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Nigerian army was due to begin a two-month national exercise on Tuesday. When the move was announced on Saturday, it denied the move was part of a security response to the demonstrations. Days earlier, the military said it was prepared to help maintain law and order.

The weeks-long protests were sparked by a video that began circulating in early October purportedly showing officers shooting a man in southern Delta state. Police denied the shooting.

Authorities on Tuesday imposed a round-the-clock curfew on Lagos as the state governor said protests had turned violent.

It is one of five of Nigeria's 36 states to have announced such measures in the last two days. The national police chief also ordered the immediate deployment of anti-riot forces nationwide following increased attacks on police facilities, a police spokesman said.

Soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality in the Lekki district of the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday, and at least two people were shot, four witnesses told Reuters.

Soldiers opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality in the Lekki district of the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday, and at least two people were shot, four witnesses told Reuters. Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on Oct. 11 but the protests have persisted with demonstrators calling for a raft of law enforcement reforms. "They started firing ammunition toward the crowd. They were firing into the crowd," said Alfred Ononugbo, 55, a security officer after the soldiers opened fire. "I saw the bullet hit one or two persons," he said. The condition of those two people was not immediately known. Amnesty International has said at least 15 people had been killed since the protests began. In a Twitter post, the Nigerian Army said no soldiers were at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night in Lekki, an upmarket district where the toll gate has been the site of daily protests in Lagos, Africa's biggest city. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted pictures of him visiting people in hospital who were victims of what he referred to as the "unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki". He said 25 people were being treated for mild to moderate injuries, two were receiving intensive care and three had been discharged. "As the Governor of our state, I recognise the buck stops at my table and I will work with the FG (federal government) to get to the root of this unfortunate incident and stabilise all security operations to protect the lives of our residents," said Sanwo-Olu, adding that he would give a state broadcast on Wednesday morning. The Lagos state government earlier said it would open an investigation into the shooting, which witnesses said began at about 7 p.m. (1800 GMT). A Nigerian army spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Inyene Akpan, 26, a photographer, said more than 20 soldiers arrived at the toll gate in Lekki and opened fire. He said he saw two people being shot. Akinbosola Ogunsanya, a third witness, said he saw around 10 people being shot. Ogunsanya, who said lights went out shortly before the soldiers arrived, also said he saw soldiers remove bodies. Another witness, Chika Dibia, said soldiers hemmed in people as they shot at them. Video verified by Reuters showed men walking slowly in formation toward demonstrators, followed by trucks with flashing lights, and the sound of gunfire popping. Another video showed the toll gate itself, with a protester waving a Nigerian flag, as people ran amid the sounds of gunfire. A Reuters witness heard sirens and gunfire. Defence meeting President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday held scheduled talks with the defence minister and the chief of defence staff around 6:15 p.m. (1715 GMT) to discuss national security, two presidency officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. A spokesman for the president did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Nigerian army was due to begin a two-month national exercise on Tuesday. When the move was announced on Saturday, it denied the move was part of a security response to the demonstrations. Days earlier, the military said it was prepared to help maintain law and order. The weeks-long protests were sparked by a video that began circulating in early October purportedly showing officers shooting a man in southern Delta state. Police denied the shooting. Authorities on Tuesday imposed a round-the-clock curfew on Lagos as the state governor said protests had turned violent. It is one of five of Nigeria's 36 states to have announced such measures in the last two days. The national police chief also ordered the immediate deployment of anti-riot forces nationwide following increased attacks on police facilities, a police spokesman said.

Nigerian soldiers fire at protesters, at least two hit - witnesses

Nigeria is witnessing massive End SARS rallies for police reforms. Protesters besieged Africa's largest city and blocked the Lagos airport. In response, the government has imposed a curfew and deployed riot cops. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Protesters shutdown Africa's largest city

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist.

Akpojotor, 31, creates portraits using discarded pieces of ankara, a brightly coloured African fabric that is ubiquitous from the slums of Lagos to high-powered meetings in the capital, Abuja. She says the meaning of the cloth helped fuel her work.

“I was so inspired by those materials,” she said. “In this part of the world we use them to celebrate all kinds of festivity: burial, naming ceremony, wedding”.

Nigeria’s economy runs on oil, which pumps in billions of dollars, but its fashion, art and film are ascending, feeding national pride.

Ankara, inspired by Indonesian batik, was originally manufactured in the Netherlands, but became wildly popular in West Africa in the 1800s. Global fashion houses have used it for nearly a decade, and prices for African artwork have risen by 70% to 100% over the past 10 years, according to London auction house Bonhams.

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Akpojotor’s work combines art and fashion on canvas, complimented with acrylic paint. A sketch of a woman’s profile comes to life as she carefully adds tiny slivers of fabric to colour her skin, lips and clothing. Another canvas features a child playing, her form in bright swatches, casting a shadow.

“There’s a common ground between you and the work because it is fabric, it is something that you know,” she said.

She has sold pieces for as much as $25,000. Kehinde Afolabi, associate director of Lagos’s Rele Gallery, found Akpojotor on social media and first featured her pieces in 2017.

“You can’t find anybody doing similar art,” Afolbai said. “It is mind blowing, how somebody can take waste and create something out of it.”

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist.

Marcellina Akpojotor weaves past thumping sewing machines, and leaves a Lagos shop with a bag brimming with discarded fabric. The colourful pieces, which would typically be burned or thrown into the Nigerian city’s lagoon as waste, find a second life in the hands of the artist. Akpojotor, 31, creates portraits using discarded pieces of ankara, a brightly coloured African fabric that is ubiquitous from the slums of Lagos to high-powered meetings in the capital, Abuja. She says the meaning of the cloth helped fuel her work. “I was so inspired by those materials,” she said. “In this part of the world we use them to celebrate all kinds of festivity: burial, naming ceremony, wedding”. Nigeria’s economy runs on oil, which pumps in billions of dollars, but its fashion, art and film are ascending, feeding national pride. Ankara, inspired by Indonesian batik, was originally manufactured in the Netherlands, but became wildly popular in West Africa in the 1800s. Global fashion houses have used it for nearly a decade, and prices for African artwork have risen by 70% to 100% over the past 10 years, according to London auction house Bonhams. Akpojotor’s work combines art and fashion on canvas, complimented with acrylic paint. A sketch of a woman’s profile comes to life as she carefully adds tiny slivers of fabric to colour her skin, lips and clothing. Another canvas features a child playing, her form in bright swatches, casting a shadow. “There’s a common ground between you and the work because it is fabric, it is something that you know,” she said. She has sold pieces for as much as $25,000. Kehinde Afolabi, associate director of Lagos’s Rele Gallery, found Akpojotor on social media and first featured her pieces in 2017. “You can’t find anybody doing similar art,” Afolbai said. “It is mind blowing, how somebody can take waste and create something out of it.”

Cut from the same cloth, Nigerian waste fabric becomes art

nigeria

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