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Nigeria's Jonathan sacks security and defence chiefs Nigeria's Jonathan sacks security and defence chiefs
(about 14 hours later)
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked his national security adviser and defence minister, amid mounting violence in the north.Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked his national security adviser and defence minister, amid mounting violence in the north.
Security aide Owoye Azazi will be replaced by Sambo Dasuki, a spokesman said. It is not clear who will succeed Defence Minister Bello Mohammed. Security aide Owoye Azazi will be replaced by Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel from the Muslim North. It is not clear who will succeed Defence Minister Bello Mohammed.
The move comes after a spate of attacks by the radical Islamists of Boko Haram. The move comes after a spate of attacks, including suicide attacks on churches, by Boko Haram Islamists.
On Sunday, 36 people died in bomb attacks on churches in the state of Kaduna and in subsequent rioting. About 150 people have died this week.
The new national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is a retired army colonel from the north, as well as a cousin of the sultan of Sokoto, who is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims. Last Sunday, three churches were targeted by suicide car bombs in the northern state of Kaduna and people were also killed in subsequent riots and revenge attacks.
No official reason was given for the dismissals, but the Kaduna bombings sharply intensified criticism of President Jonathan's handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. Kaduna lies on the dividing line between Nigeria's largely Christian south and mainly Muslim north.
He was also widely criticised for travelling to the UN's Rio+20 climate change conference in Brazil on Tuesday, just as unrest was flaring again. Rioting flared anew on Monday, while dozens of people were killed gun battles between the security forces and suspected militants in the north-eastern city of Damaturu later in the week.
Sixteen people were killed in the Kaduna blasts, which targeted three churches. About 20 more died when Christian mobs went on the rampage, burning mosques and killing Muslims.
Rioting flared anew on Monday, while dozens of people were killed gun battles between the security forces and suspected militants in the northern city of Damaturu earlier this week.
Curfews have since been imposed in both Kaduna and Damaturu.Curfews have since been imposed in both Kaduna and Damaturu.
Growing insurgencyGrowing insurgency
Attacks by the group, mainly in predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria, have killed hundreds of people this year. Mr Dasuki, the new national security adviser, is a retired army colonel from the north, as well as a cousin of the sultan of Sokoto, who is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims.
Correspondents say there is real concern that residents could increasingly take the law into their own hands if the authorities do not tackle the problem. The BBC's Will Ross in Nigeria says this is seen as a positive move which many Nigerians hope will lead to progress in halting the spread of violence.
No official reason was given for the dismissals, but the Kaduna bombings sharply intensified criticism of President Jonathan's handling of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The president was also widely criticised for travelling to the UN's Rio+20 climate change conference in Brazil on Tuesday, just as unrest was flaring again.
The military crackdown in northern Nigeria has not only failed to improve the security situation it has also led to countless civilian deaths, our reporter says.
Some argue it has also prompted the Islamist militants to increase the number of attacks.
Analysts say there is real concern that residents could increasingly take the law into their own hands if the authorities do not tackle the problem.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language of northern Nigeria, seeks to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state.Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language of northern Nigeria, seeks to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state.
The group adheres to a strain of Islam that outlaws any kind of activity linked to Western culture.The group adheres to a strain of Islam that outlaws any kind of activity linked to Western culture.