This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19801814
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Nigerian gunmen kill Mubi students | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 20 people, mostly students, have been killed by unknown gunmen in Mubi, north-eastern Nigeria, officials say. | |
Most of the dead are said to have attended the Federal Polytechnic Mubi. | |
A college spokesman said 26 students had been killed, while a local resident told the BBC that more than 40 people had been shot dead or stabbed. | |
The killings come days after a major operation against the Boko Haram militant group in the town. | |
National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Yushua Shuaib told the Reuters news agency that it was not clear whether the attack was the work of Boko Haram, or the result of a dispute between rival political groups at the university. | |
A Red Cross official said at least 10 people had died, reports the AFP news agency. | A Red Cross official said at least 10 people had died, reports the AFP news agency. |
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says mobile phone masts in the area were recently attacked by the militants, so getting information from Mubi is difficult. | BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says mobile phone masts in the area were recently attacked by the militants, so getting information from Mubi is difficult. |
'Everybody is scared' | 'Everybody is scared' |
A resident, who did not want his name to be used, told the BBC's Hausa service that men in military uniform went to a hall of residence away from the campus just before midnight, got the students out of their rooms and ordered them to say their names. | |
Some were then shot dead and others stabbed with knives, and their bodies left in lines outside the buildings. | Some were then shot dead and others stabbed with knives, and their bodies left in lines outside the buildings. |
He said it is not clear why some were killed and others spared - some of the dead were Muslims and others Christian. | |
"Everybody is scared," he said. | "Everybody is scared," he said. |
He added that students were now leaving the town, many with tree branches over their cars - a traditional sign of neutrality in Nigeria. | He added that students were now leaving the town, many with tree branches over their cars - a traditional sign of neutrality in Nigeria. |
Other Mubi residents say they heard gunfire for about two hours during the night and that those living near the hostel were also targeted. | Other Mubi residents say they heard gunfire for about two hours during the night and that those living near the hostel were also targeted. |
The authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in the town and ordered residents to stay indoors. | The authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in the town and ordered residents to stay indoors. |
The university has been temporarily closed. | The university has been temporarily closed. |
Last week, the Nigerian military carried out an operation in Mubi and arrested dozens of people over suspected links to Boko Haram. | Last week, the Nigerian military carried out an operation in Mubi and arrested dozens of people over suspected links to Boko Haram. |
Mubi is in Adamawa state, which has a mixed Muslim and Christian population and borders Borno state, where Boko Haram came to prominence in 2009, staging an uprising in the state capital, Maiduguri. | Mubi is in Adamawa state, which has a mixed Muslim and Christian population and borders Borno state, where Boko Haram came to prominence in 2009, staging an uprising in the state capital, Maiduguri. |
Boko Haram has not yet commented on the Mubi attacks. | Boko Haram has not yet commented on the Mubi attacks. |
It is fighting to establish Islamic law in Nigeria and has killed more than 1,000 people in numerous attacks across northern and central areas this year. | It is fighting to establish Islamic law in Nigeria and has killed more than 1,000 people in numerous attacks across northern and central areas this year. |