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Boko Haram bomb suspect escapes from Nigeria police Boko Haram bomb suspect escapes from Nigeria police
(about 2 hours later)
A key suspect in the Christmas Day bombing which killed at least 38 people in Nigeria has escaped from custody, police have admitted.A key suspect in the Christmas Day bombing which killed at least 38 people in Nigeria has escaped from custody, police have admitted.
Kabiru Sokoto - believed to be a member of the Islamist sect Boko Haram - was arrested on Saturday in the capital Abuja after police trailed him.Kabiru Sokoto - believed to be a member of the Islamist sect Boko Haram - was arrested on Saturday in the capital Abuja after police trailed him.
But the very next day he escaped as police attempted to search his house outside the capital.But the very next day he escaped as police attempted to search his house outside the capital.
A police commissioner has been arrested, police said in a statement.A police commissioner has been arrested, police said in a statement.
It is a huge embarrassment for a nation struggling to contain an increasingly bloody campaign of violence blamed on Boko Haram, observers say.It is a huge embarrassment for a nation struggling to contain an increasingly bloody campaign of violence blamed on Boko Haram, observers say.
Authorities say Mr Sokoto planned the 25 December bombing of St Theresa Catholic church in Madalla, just outside Abuja.Authorities say Mr Sokoto planned the 25 December bombing of St Theresa Catholic church in Madalla, just outside Abuja.
He was arrested on Saturday in Abuja at a lodge owned by a state governor, says the BBC's Mark Lobel in Nigeria - adding that it appears the state governor was not aware of his presence.He was arrested on Saturday in Abuja at a lodge owned by a state governor, says the BBC's Mark Lobel in Nigeria - adding that it appears the state governor was not aware of his presence.
'Pandemonium''Pandemonium'
The next day, the suspect was taken to his home just outside the capital, which police intended to search.The next day, the suspect was taken to his home just outside the capital, which police intended to search.
But youths surrounded the police cars and pandemonium broke out, our correspondent says - during which the suspect managed to escape.But youths surrounded the police cars and pandemonium broke out, our correspondent says - during which the suspect managed to escape.
In a statement quoted by AFP news agency, police said Boko Haram members had attacked police escorting Mr Sokoto.In a statement quoted by AFP news agency, police said Boko Haram members had attacked police escorting Mr Sokoto.
"The police view this development as a serious negligence on the part of the commissioner of police and have since queried and suspended him from duty," it added."The police view this development as a serious negligence on the part of the commissioner of police and have since queried and suspended him from duty," it added.
The commissioner was not identified.The commissioner was not identified.
This is either huge incompetence or worse on the part of the police, our correspondent says.This is either huge incompetence or worse on the part of the police, our correspondent says.
Mr Sokoto was the only major suspect to be arrested of late for involvement in the bloody attacks blamed on Boko Haram which have terrorised Nigeria.Mr Sokoto was the only major suspect to be arrested of late for involvement in the bloody attacks blamed on Boko Haram which have terrorised Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan has voiced concerns that members of Boko Haram have infiltrated government offices and security agencies.President Goodluck Jonathan has voiced concerns that members of Boko Haram have infiltrated government offices and security agencies.
Suspicion is now hovering over the police that there may have been some kind of collusion with Boko Haram, our correspondent says.Suspicion is now hovering over the police that there may have been some kind of collusion with Boko Haram, our correspondent says.
Last year, Boko Haram carried out suicide bombings on high-profile targets such as the headquarters of the UN and the police in Abuja.Last year, Boko Haram carried out suicide bombings on high-profile targets such as the headquarters of the UN and the police in Abuja.
Reports suggest it has been blamed for at least 74 killings this year alone.Reports suggest it has been blamed for at least 74 killings this year alone.
The group, known locally as Boko Haram meaning "Western education is forbidden", wants to establish Sharia law in Nigeria.The group, known locally as Boko Haram meaning "Western education is forbidden", wants to establish Sharia law in Nigeria.
Nigeria: A nation divided
Despite its vast resources, Nigeria ranks among the most unequal countries in the world, according to the UN. The poverty in the north is in stark contrast to the more developed southern states. While in the oil-rich south-east, the residents of Delta and Akwa Ibom complain that all the wealth they generate flows up the pipeline to Abuja and Lagos.
Nigeria's 160 million people are divided between numerous ethno-linguistic groups and also along religious lines. Broadly, the Hausa-Fulani people based in the north are mostly Muslims. The Yorubas of the south-west are divided between Muslims and Christians, while the Igbos of the south-east and neighbouring groups are mostly Christian or animist. The Middle Belt is home to hundreds of groups with different beliefs, and around Jos there are frequent clashes between Hausa-speaking Muslims and Christian members of the Berom community.
Southern residents tend to have better access to healthcare, as reflected by the greater uptake of vaccines for polio, tuberculosis, tetanus and diphtheria. Some northern groups have in the past boycotted immunisation programmes, saying they are a Western plot to make Muslim women infertile. This led to a recurrence of polio, but the vaccinations have now resumed.
Female literacy is seen as the key to raising living standards for the next generation. For example, a newborn child is far likelier to survive if its mother is well-educated. In Nigeria we see a stark contrast between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south. In some northern states less than 5% of women can read and write, whereas in some Igbo areas more than 90% are literate.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and among the biggest in the world but most of its people subsist on less than $2 a day. The oil is produced in the south-east and some militant groups there want to keep a greater share of the wealth which comes from under their feet. Attacks by militants on oil installations led to a sharp fall in Nigeria's output during the last decade. But in 2010, a government amnesty led thousands of fighters to lay down their weapons.