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Boko Haram's birthplace now "relatively safe": Nigerian official

Xinhua, April 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Maiduguri, the capital city of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno and the birthplace of Islamist group Boko Haram, is enjoying relative peace, the Borno state governor said.

Kashim Shettima on Tuesday said Maiduguri, termed by him as Boko Haram's "headquarters", has become a "relatively safe haven" in the whole of the state.

Maiduguri has in the past suffered several deadly attacks blamed on Boko Haram. Multiple suicide blasts in January and March this year in areas near Maiduguri killed at least 91 people.

It is expected that by the end of this year, most internally displaced persons in other parts of the state could return to their homes in Maiduguri, Shettima said.

The governor said ten months ago that "one could not travel for 10 km without encountering terrorists (Boko Haram militants)" in Borno state.

"But now Boko Haram has been so decimated," he said on Tuesday but added it did not mean Boko Haram had been annihilated in the restive state.

Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri in 2002. It launched its campaign of violence in 2009 and has since killed more than 10,000 people mostly in northeastern Nigeria.

The Nigerian army has in the past year retaken large areas previously under Boko Haram control and freed hundreds of its hostages. Endit