At least 25 killed during Nigerian military raid: Amnesty

LAGOS: At least 25 people were killed during a Nigerian military raid after a bomb blast and many others have been reported missing, a statement from Amnesty International said Friday.

The statement referred to an incident last weekend in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, which has seen a wave of attacks attributed to a sect known as Boko Haram and where hundreds of troops have been deployed.

"In Kaleri Ngomari Custain, in Maiduguri, on Saturday 9 July at least 25 people were killed and at least 45 wounded, including women and children, when the Joint Military Task Force cordoned off a bomb site and went from house to house, shooting and arresting people living in the area," the organisation said.

"Many men and boys have been reported missing. According to eyewitnesses, the security forces burnt down several houses, forcing their occupants to flee."

The military had reported 11 dead in the wake of the incident, saying all were members of Boko Haram. Residents alleged that soldiers shot civilians and burnt down houses, but the military denied targeting innocent people.

There has been extreme tension in Maiduguri, hit by almost daily attacks in recent weeks. Soldiers were accused of again shooting civilians on Friday following a bomb blast that wounded eight policemen, which the military denied.

"Reports say members of the security forces have repeatedly threatened to shoot everyone in the area if they fail to tip them off about future bombs," Amnesty said.

"As a result thousands of people living in Maiduguri have already left the city, and many more continue to do so.

"Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian government to investigate the killings and bring to justice anyone found responsible for these heinous crimes.

It re-emerged last year with a series of hit-and-run shootings targeting politicians, community leaders, police and soldiers, before turning to bombings, which have intensified in recent weeks. The attacks have also become increasingly deadly.

Amnesty said more than 140 people have been killed by Boko Haram bombings in Nigeria's north since January.

A group of elders in Maiduguri have called for the withdrawal of troops from the city, saying the deployment has only worsened the situation.

A man claiming to be a spokesman for the sect has said that no ceasefire is possible until troops are withdrawn.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011