Nigeria: Shootout Kills 3, Weapons Found

Stratfor

20 February 2011

Nigeria: Shootout Kills 3, Weapons Found

Nigerian troops killed three gunmen in a shootout and found a cache of weapons on Feb. 19 in northeastern Nigeria, AFP reported Feb. 20. Gen. Tanko Yusuf Gaya said that three gunmen driving towards Maiduguri from the border town of Gamboru Ngala opened fire on a military patrol team and the shootout that followed killed all three gunmen. The incident occurred in a place where the Islamist group Boko Haram is based but Gaya declined to confirm that the gunmen were from the group. In a separate event, residents led soldiers to a car in a village near the shootout that was holding weapons. The weapons included a machine gun, rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 rifles, explosive devices, hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition, Gaya said, adding that it is unclear where the destination for the weapons was.

Stratfor

20 February 2011

Nigeria: Riots In North After Man Held By Police Dies

Riots broke out in the northern Nigerian town of Dambatta, burning down three buildings and leaving one person dead after police opened fire, AFP reported Feb. 20. The riots were triggered after the death of a man who had been taken into police custody. Police said the man had stolen a motorcycle on the night of Feb. 18 after being released from jail, and was beaten by a mob before being taken in by police. On Feb. 19 the man was brought to a hospital for his injuries and died. The man’s family said police had tortured and killed him, and the rioters on Feb. 20 attempted to burn down the police station in response. Police shot into the air to disperse the rioters, hitting and killing one person. A Baptist church, a youth service center and the home of the police commissioner were burned down. Calm had been restored by the evening of Feb. 20 and 35 people have been arrested, police said.