Nigeria: Panic and chaos as jihadists battle security forces, set fire to schools and government building

They want an Islamic state, and think murder and mayhem are the best path to it. Where did they get such an "Islamophobic" idea? "Attacks, clashes in north Nigeria leave several dead," by Aminu Abubakar for AFP, October 19 (thanks to S.B.):

KANO, Nigeria (AFP) - Explosions and gun battles between suspected Islamist extremists and security forces hit northeastern Nigeria, leaving several people dead and buildings destroyed in one city, officials and residents said Friday.
The clashes sparked panic and chaos in the city of Potiskum from late Thursday, with residents reporting a number of dead as well as schools and a government building set on fire.

In Maiduguri, the base of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, gunfire and several explosions could also be heard on Friday, but details were not immediately clear.

Police said they were seeking to restore calm in Potiskum and clear unexploded bombs, while some of the ordnance was still detonating.

"There are so many bombs here and there, and I can't give you the casualty figure now, because our men are still in the field to restore calm," said Patrick Egbuniwe, police commissioner for Yobe state, where Potiskum is located.

A military source said some houses had been destroyed with home-made bombs and a security checkpoint was attacked, but he also could not give a death toll yet. He said Boko Haram was suspected to be behind the violence.

"I cannot ascertain as of now how many people were killed, apart from the one (suspect) that I know who was shot at the checkpoint," the source told AFP.

Potiskum, which has been repeatedly hit by Boko Haram, was under military lockdown on Friday as security forces sought to track down the attackers, while residents described heavy explosions and gunfire, including home-made bombs being thrown at houses.

Two residents spoke of seeing a number of bodies, while one said several schools were burned, including an Islamic seminary.

"From where I stand, I can see the local government secretariat completely burned and several shops around it smouldering from last night's attack," one resident said.

Another said that "at least five primary schools, including an Islamic seminary, have been burnt in the attacks."...

Thursday's violence seemed to have begun with an attack on a security checkpoint, which led to gun battles with the assailants.

Residents said chaos then spread to other parts of the city, with bombs exploding and gunfire echoing through neighbourhoods.

Blasts and gunfire had also rocked the city on Wednesday.

Authorities said then that home-made bombs were thrown at security forces during a search of a suspected Boko Haram hideout, resulting in a gun battle, but gave no indication of casualties.

Northeastern Nigeria has been the region hardest hit by Boko Haram, though its attacks have also spread to other areas of the north and centre.

The group has claimed to be seeking an Islamic state in Nigeria, though its demands have repeatedly shifted. Boko Haram is believed to include a number of factions in addition to imitators and criminals who carry out violence under the guise of the group....

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7 Comments

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London Jim | October 19, 2012 4:28 PM | Reply

From the article:
.''.in addition to imitators and criminals who carry out violence under the guise of the group.''.
Same old, same old re: you know what.

Wakingwest | October 19, 2012 4:58 PM | Reply

Christianity was the effective antidote to the spread of islam into the heart of Europe a few centuries ago. Africa now is weakly immunised and chronically deficient in resources rendering it relatively feeble in its capacity to defend itself robustly against the aggressive forces of islam. It appears that the stage is set in the continent of Africa, this century, for a conflagration of many wars bringing about the tragic death to millions of Africans. Meanwhile the sympathy and support from the current president of the US has legitimised and sanctioned the very forces which are unleashing this great demonic violence across the poor Africans..

salah replied to comment from Wakingwest | October 19, 2012 6:12 PM | Reply

Here is what a MUSLIM scholar had to say about Christianity in Africa:

"..the number of Christians in Africa has increased from one million in 1902 to 330 million in the year 2000.."

http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2010/05/dying-islam-lislam-mourant.html

guide inside | October 19, 2012 7:23 PM | Reply

Well of course they think murder and mayhem are the best path. Moose-slums think that and do that all over the world don't they. Well, don't they? Its the time honored path for Islam. Murder and burn them into subjection. Thanks Mr. President for the Arab "spring". You forged the way for every relatively stable government in the middle east to be murdered and burned. Good ole secular Ashad in Syria brutally hangs on to power. I almost root for him, just to thwart your plan, you arrogant ass!

Jerry | October 19, 2012 7:31 PM | Reply

All in the name of the Plunderer for Profit PBUH (piece be upon him) who proclaimed himself as the last and final messenger.

In order for this to have happened, God must have abdicated in favour of the self proclaimed messenger. This is one inherent blasphemy at the core of the religion of death and mayhem.

There is another inherent one:

God the almighty creator chose to create diversity. The Plunderer for Profit has chosen to combat that diversity and took it upon himself to chose who should live and who should die.

The followers of the Plunderer for Profit do not kill and maim and plunder in the service of God, as the Almighty does not need their protection!

Wakingwest replied to comment from salah | October 20, 2012 12:47 PM | Reply

Thanks for the link Salah,

If the figures cited in the link you provide are accurate it would be reason for hope.
The unprecedented dissemination of information brought by the Internet and satellite broadcasting will jar open the closed minds of those few in number courageous enough, confident enough and humble enough to consider that they have been duped by a seductive lies of the quran.

gravenimage | October 21, 2012 1:42 PM | Reply

Nigeria: Panic and chaos as jihadists battle security forces, set fire to schools and government building
.................................

*Terrifying*. Boko Haram is more and overt in their push to establish a Shari'ah state in Africa's most populous country.

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