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-22462225

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nigeria attack: Nasarawa cult ambush 'kills 23 police' Nigeria attack: Nasarawa cult ambush 'kills 23 police'
(35 minutes later)
At least 23 police officers in Nigeria have been killed in an ambush by a local militia in the central Nasarawa state, officials have said.At least 23 police officers in Nigeria have been killed in an ambush by a local militia in the central Nasarawa state, officials have said.
They were on their way to arrest members of the Ombatse "cult" when they were attacked, a state spokesman told the BBC. They were on their way to arrest the leader of the outlawed Ombatse "cult" when gunmen opened fire, a state spokesman told the BBC.
Sani Musa Mairiga said they were forcing local villagers to swear an oath of allegiance to the group.
The state police chief said that 17 officers were still missing.The state police chief said that 17 officers were still missing.
Police chief Abayomi Akeremale said Ombatse members had been forcing local people to join their group. Nasarawa police chief Abayomi Akeremale said about 60 police officers came under attack.
"We decided to send our men to the area to arrest members of Ombatse, including their priest," he told the AFP news agency."We decided to send our men to the area to arrest members of Ombatse, including their priest," he told the AFP news agency.
"[They] have been going to churches and mosques initiating people into their cult by forcefully administering an allegiance oath to unwilling people.""[They] have been going to churches and mosques initiating people into their cult by forcefully administering an allegiance oath to unwilling people."
The Ombatse are from the Eggon ethnic group, which is said to be evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The police were attacked on Tuesday near the shrine to the deity of the Eggon people, in the village of Alakyo, near the state capital, Lafia.
The attack happened in the village of Alakyo, near the state capital, Lafia. The Eggon ethnic group are said to be evenly divided between Christians and Muslims but many people continue to follow traditional religions.
Ombatse means "the time has come" in the Eggon language.