Christmas bomb plotter shot dead
Taking revenge: Nigerian security
forces have killed a top member of the Boko Haram sect responsible for
attacks such as this bombed primary school. Picture: AP
A RADICAL Islamist sect leader blamed for a deadly Christmas Day church bombing in Nigeria has been killed.
However the sect showed in a prison break that his death has not affected its ability to keep fighting.A statement attributed to the Boko Haram sect said the group is happy about Habibu Bama's "martyrdom".
Bama, a former soldier, died after sustaining injuries from a gun battle between security forces and the sect in the northeastern city of Damaturu earlier this week, Nigeria's State Security Service said.
The battle occurred from Monday to Tuesday as authorities fought back against the sect that struck six churches, five primary schools, a police station and a police outpost, authorities said.
Bama had been declared wanted in connection with the December 25 bombing of St Theresa Catholic church in the town of Madalla, just outside of the capital, Abuja, killing at least 44 people.
Officials also believe he was involved in a federal police headquarters bombing a year ago and the UN headquarters suicide car bombing in Abuja in August last year that killed 25 people.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for all three attacks last year. It is also held responsible for more than 620 deaths this year, according to an AP count.
The Nigerian government has failed to corral the growing sectarian violence, leading President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday to fire the West African nation's security adviser and defence minister.
Security forces in Damaturu were still reeling from days of sustained sect attacks when Boko Haram raided a police station early yesterday, freeing 40 suspected sect members, said Yobe State Commissioner of police Patrick Egbuniwe.
He said one inmate was killed in the gun battle, and a prison warden was wounded.
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