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31 August 2015
- From the section Africa
Boko Haram is trying to expand its activities beyond Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north, to include the commercial capital Lagos, as well as other parts of the country, officials say.
Twelve members of the Islamist militant group have been arrested in Lagos, Nigeria’s intelligence agency says.
It is not possible to independently verify details of the statement.
Boko Haram has waged a six-year insurgency in Nigeria, mainly confined to the north-east of the country.
Reports say that more than 50 people were killed in a suspected Boko Haram attack in north-eastern Borno State on Friday, about 100km (62 miles) north of the state capital Maiduguri.
Boko Haram at a glance
- Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education – Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language
- Launched military operations in 2009
- Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls
- Joined Islamic State, now calls itself “West African province”
- Seized large area in north-east, where it declared caliphate
- Regional force has retaken most territory this year
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