Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan: Tide turned against Boko Haram

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has said the tide has "definitely turned" against militant Islamists as regional forces recapture territory. His comments came hours after Boko Haram militants were blamed for killing 27 people in bombings in two commercial centres in the north on Tuesday. Boko Haram had hit "soft targets" because of the setbacks it had suffered in battle, Mr Jonathan said. Regional forces have recaptured eight major towns in recent weeks. So Mr Jonathan's comments appear to have some credence, even if he made similar remarks last year, says the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi in the capital, Abuja. The Nigerian military, backed by regional troops, is now taking the war to Boko Haram, rather than fleeing the battlefield, our correspondent adds. However, at least six major towns are still held by Boko Haram, he says. Many residents fear the militants will regroup and launch a new offensive to regain territory, he adds.

Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan: Tide turned against Boko Haram

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has said the tide has "definitely turned" against militant Islamists as regional forces recapture territory. His comments came hours after Boko Haram militants were blamed for killing 27 people in bombings in two commercial centres in the north on Tuesday. Boko Haram had hit "soft targets" because of the setbacks it had suffered in battle, Mr Jonathan said. Regional forces have recaptured eight major towns in recent weeks. So Mr Jonathan's comments appear to have some credence, even if he made similar remarks last year, says the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi in the capital, Abuja. The Nigerian military, backed by regional troops, is now taking the war to Boko Haram, rather than fleeing the battlefield, our correspondent adds. However, at least six major towns are still held by Boko Haram, he says. Many residents fear the militants will regroup and launch a new offensive to regain territory, he adds.

Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan: Tide turned against Boko Haram

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has said the tide has "definitely turned" against militant Islamists as regional forces recapture territory. His comments came hours after Boko Haram militants were blamed for killing 27 people in bombings in two commercial centres in the north on Tuesday. Boko Haram had hit "soft targets" because of the setbacks it had suffered in battle, Mr Jonathan said. Regional forces have recaptured eight major towns in recent weeks. So Mr Jonathan's comments appear to have some credence, even if he made similar remarks last year, says the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi in the capital, Abuja. The Nigerian military, backed by regional troops, is now taking the war to Boko Haram, rather than fleeing the battlefield, our correspondent adds. However, at least six major towns are still held by Boko Haram, he says. Many residents fear the militants will regroup and launch a new offensive to regain territory, he adds.

Young girl suicide bomber kills 4, injures 46 at northeastern Nigeria market

A girl suicide bomber as young as 10 blew herself up at a busy market in the northeast Nigerian town of Potiskum on Sunday, killing four others and seriously wounding 46 people, a witness and hospital records show. The girl, who appeared no more than 10 years old, got out of a tricycle taxi in front of the cell phone market and detonated her explosives on Potiskum's main market day, according to survivor Anazumi Saleh, who suffered injuries to his head. Officials have not immediately ascertained the girl's identification or her age from her remains. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing but the attack bears all the signs of similar bombings by Boko Haram and raises fears that Nigeria's home-grown Islamic extremists are using kidnap victims as bombers. It is unclear whether the girls and young women in many recent attacks have set off the explosions themselves, or whether the detonations are controlled remotely. We await further informatio from our currespondence.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS