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Federal Polytechnic Mubi students killed in Nigeria | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Some 25 people, mostly students, have been killed by unknown gunmen in Mubi, north-eastern Nigeria, police say. | |
Police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim told the BBC that 22 were students, whom the attackers had called out by name. | |
A local resident said at least 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, while others have linked them to a dispute over student union elections. | |
There has been a history of violence in Nigerian student elections but if confirmed, this would be the most deadly such incident. | |
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says mobile phone masts in the area were recently attacked by Boko Haram militants, so getting information from Mubi is difficult. | |
'Everybody is scared' | 'Everybody is scared' |
The Adamawa state police spokesman, who had just visited the scene, said investigations were under way and the motive for the attack was not yet clear. | |
But he said the attackers had inside knowledge: "The attackers called the victims by name and killed them." | |
Mr Ibrahim said two of the dead were security guards and the other an elderly resident. | |
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 Federal Polytechnic Mubi 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. | 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, adding that the shooting lasted for about two hours. | |
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. |
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. |