Five killed in Nigeria violence

Abuja: At least five persons, including two soldiers, were killed in separate incidents of violence in Nigeria on Sunday.  The soldiers were killed when unknown gunmen suspected to be members of radical Islamic sect - Boko Haram - attacked a military convoy in northern Kaduna city. "The military personnel occupying two buses passing through Kogi state were members of a contingent of soldiers sent to fight terrorism in Mali by Nigerian authorities," an official said.

The assailants used remote controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and hand held weapons on their vehicle as it passed through Abobo village in Okene, state commissioner for information Mohammed Musa Katsina said.

In Kano city, three persons were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked a vehicle in which a prominent traditional ruler was travelling in. Emir of Kano Ado Bayero, however, was unhurt in the attack.

"His (Ado) three aides were shot dead on the spot," Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said.


The attackers "came on motorcycles and some came in a car" adding that the gunmen escaped in the confusion that trailed their attack.

Boko Harams says it is fighting to install Islamic sharia rule in Africa's top oil producing country.