Boko Haram: 10,000 pupils forced out of school in Nigerian state

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Burning of schools, the latest strategy to be employed by the Islamic sect Boko Haram, has forced an estimated 10,000 pupils out of schools after their institutions were burnt in the past two weeks in Maiduguri, capital of Nigeria's northern Borno state.

According to local media reports Monday, a total of 12 public and private schools have been burnt since the sect, whose name translates to ''Western education is sin'' in English, started attacking the academic institutions.

The schools so far burnt include Budun Primary School, Kulo Gomna Primary School, Abbaganaram Primary School, Maiduguri Experimental School (private), Gomari Costain, Gwange 1 Primary School, Success Private Secondary School and Sunshine Private School.

In claiming responsibility for the burning of the schools, Boko Haram said it was because security men were raiding local Islamic schools.

"Thousands of children are out of school," the private Daily Trust Monday quoted a teacher, Jummai Sam, as saying. "The implication is that many of them would be roaming the streets and at the end of the day, they would be forced to engage in social vices which will not augur well for the society."

Since launching its terror campaign in 2009, Boko Haram has targeted security agents and public institutions, killing more than 1,000 people in the attacks

The ongoing attacks on schools in its home base of Maiduguri is the latest phase in the sect's terror campaign.
-0- PANA SEG 5Mar2012