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Nigeria mobile phone masts targeted | Nigeria mobile phone masts targeted |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 24 mobile phone masts have been attacked across northern Nigeria, industry officials say. | |
A military spokesman blamed the militant Islamist group Boko Haram for the first such attacks on nine mobile phone companies. | |
Boko Haram has previously accused the firms of working with security agencies to track down its members. | Boko Haram has previously accused the firms of working with security agencies to track down its members. |
Experts say the damage could run into millions of dollars. | |
Gunshots and explosions were heard and fires raged as mobile phone pasts were targeted in northern Nigeria's main city, Kano, as well as the cities of Maiduguri, Gombe and Bauchi. | |
An attack also happened in the town of Potiskum. | An attack also happened in the town of Potiskum. |
Military joint task force spokesman for Maiduguri Lt Col Sagir Musa told the BBC the security forces suspected that Boko Haram had carried out the attacks. | Military joint task force spokesman for Maiduguri Lt Col Sagir Musa told the BBC the security forces suspected that Boko Haram had carried out the attacks. |
It was a new trend in the violence carried out by the group, he said. | It was a new trend in the violence carried out by the group, he said. |
'Collusion' | |
Nine companies had reported infrastructural damage to 24 masts since Wednesday, said Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, AP news agency reports. | |
Companies targeted include South African telecom giant MTN as well the United Arab Emirates firm Etisalat, AFP news agency reports. | |
"We confirm that like all the other major telcos, some of MTN's installations in northern Nigeria have been damaged by unknown persons," spokeswoman Funmilayo Omogbenigun is quoted as saying. | |
Boko Haram launched a military campaign in 2009 to fight for Islamic rule, bombing government buildings, churches and assassinating moderate Muslim clerics. | Boko Haram launched a military campaign in 2009 to fight for Islamic rule, bombing government buildings, churches and assassinating moderate Muslim clerics. |
In February, it accused Nigerian telecom companies of breaking their "ethical obligations" and colluding with the government. | In February, it accused Nigerian telecom companies of breaking their "ethical obligations" and colluding with the government. |
The group said it believed the companies were helping the security forces to monitor and track down its members. | The group said it believed the companies were helping the security forces to monitor and track down its members. |
Nigeria is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian and animist south. | Nigeria is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian and animist south. |