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Nigeria police link Boko Haram sect to politicians Nigeria senator Ali Ndume 'linked to Boko Haram'
(1 day later)
Nigeria's secret police have said Boko Haram Islamic militants are receiving funding from certain politicians in the north. A Nigerian senator has been charged over his alleged links to the Boko Haram Islamist militants who have staged numerous deadly attacks in recent months.
The intelligence agency said it had arrested an alleged spokesman for the group, who told them he was sponsored by a politician in Borno state. Ali Ndume has been questioned by secret police since Monday night.
Boko Haram is blamed for a growing number of deadly attacks in Nigeria. He denied charges of intimidation and breach of trust after an alleged Boko Haram spokesman said Mr Ndume had paid him to send threatening text messages.
These include the UN headquarters bombing in Abuja in August, which killed 24 people. Boko Haram recently killed at least 63 people in a series of raids.
Boko Haram said it had carried out bomb and gun attacks in the north-eastern town of Damaturu early this month, in which at least 63 people were killed. In August it bombed the UN headquarters in Abuja, killing 24 people.
The targets of these attacks included churches and the headquarters of the Yobe state police. Mr Ndume is a member of a presidential taskforce, which explored the possibility of opening talks with the Islamist militants.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden", has launched frequent attacks on the police and government officials. He is a senator from Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party from Borno state, where Boko Haram first emerged.
Parts of the group say they want sharia law more widely applied across Nigeria, but most factions are focused on local issues. Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden". Parts of the group say they want Sharia, Islamic law, more widely applied across Nigeria, but correspondents say most factions are focused on local issues.
It has carried out many attacks on police and government institutions in both Borno state and more recently other parts of the country.
'Political patronage''Political patronage'
The secret police (SSS) said they had discovered links between Boko Haram and regional politicians after the arrest and questioning on 3 November of an alleged spokesman for the group called Ali Sanda Umar Konduga. The secret police (SSS) said on Monday they had discovered links between Boko Haram and regional politicians after the arrest and questioning on 3 November of the group's alleged spokesman Ali Sanda Umar Konduga.
Police alleged Mr Konduga was the Boko Haram spokesman quoted in the Nigerian media using the name Usman al-Zawahiri.Police alleged Mr Konduga was the Boko Haram spokesman quoted in the Nigerian media using the name Usman al-Zawahiri.
"His arrest further confirms the service position that some of the Boko Haram extremists have political patronage and sponsorship," SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said."His arrest further confirms the service position that some of the Boko Haram extremists have political patronage and sponsorship," SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said.
The statement also said Mr Konduga had been behind threatening text messages sent to judges and politicians. The statement also said Mr Konduga had been behind threatening text messages sent to judges and politicians, which he said Mr Ndume had paid for.
The attacks in Damaturu followed a triple suicide bomb attack on a military headquarters in Maiduguri, in neighbouring Borno state. Boko Haram launched an uprising in Borno in 2009 which was put down by the Nigerian military. Boko Haram's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was captured by the army, handed over to the police, and later found dead.
Boko Haram launched an uprising in northern Nigeria in 2009 which was put down by the Nigerian military. Boko Haram's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was captured by the army, handed over to the police, and later found dead.
The group has since re-emerged, carrying out a series of shootings and bombings.The group has since re-emerged, carrying out a series of shootings and bombings.
There has been speculation about whether Boko Haram has links with external extremist groups, including al-Qaeda's North African branch.There has been speculation about whether Boko Haram has links with external extremist groups, including al-Qaeda's North African branch.