Boko Haram Islamist militants kill 18 in Nigeria

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<strong>Eighteen people were killed and 21 others injured when members of the Boko Haram terror group attacked Nigeria's northeastern town of Damasak earlier this week, wreaking havoc in the area, a top official said.</strong></p>
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Babagana Umara Zulum, governor of the restive state of Borno, told reporters on Friday during he confirmed the toll from Tuesday's attack during a visit to Damasak.<br />
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"The UN humanitarian hub, private residential houses, a police station, a primary healthcare centre were among properties destroyed," said Zulum.<br />
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He said he visited Damasak to fully assess the extent of damage and interact well with security officials involved in the counter-insurgency operations in the town, adding measures were put in place to forestall future attacks.<br />
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Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009.<br />
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The terror group has also extended its attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin.</p>
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<em>(IANS)</em></p>
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