Nigeria Admits Police Were 'Overzealous'

Author:
AlJazeera English
Publisher:
AlJazeera English
Publication Date:
20 July 2011
Tags:
Africa, Nigeria, Conflict, Peace and Security

 

The Nigerian government has for the first time admitted that its soldiers were "overzealous" in their fight against a radical Muslim group.

The military has been accused of extra-judicial killings and causing the deaths of civilians during its crackdown on the Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, has waged a violent campaign against Nigerian police and politicians.

Al Jazeera correspondent Emike Umolu reports.

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