Nigerian president meets elders over Islamist sect attacks

AFP

21 July 2011

Nigerian president meets elders over Islamist sect attacks

ABUJA — Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan met Wednesday with northern elders on the menace of Islamist sect Boko Haram, blamed for a spate of deadly bomb and gun attacks especially in the city of Maiduguri.

"The president this afternoon held a broad-based consultation with leaders from Borno State, the North East and Arewa Consultative Forum on the security situation in Borno state and other parts of the north," Information Minister Labaran Maku said.

The meeting explored different options to bring about peace and security in the beleaguered state and other affected areas in northern Nigeria, said the minister who briefed journalists after the meeting.

He did not give details.

The meeting, which he said was "very fruitful", focused on finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram crisis, he said.