MP shot dead by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - A member of the state House of Assembly (state parliament) in Nigeria's northern Borno state, Mr. Modu Bintube, has been shot dead by gunmen suspected to be members of the violent Islamic group Boko Haram, local radio stations reported Monday.

The report quoted the police as saying the MP was shot dead in front of his residence in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on Sunday evening.

It was not immediately clear why the MP was targeted, but Boko Haram has killed several politicians and security agents in the past.

The attack came a few hours after a series of explosions rocked a police base in nearby Gombe state, leaving one police officer and three of the attackers dead.

The police blame Boko Haram for the pre-dawn explosion, which left many vehicles and buildings at the base in ruins.

The amoury of the police base was also reported to have been looted by the attackers.

Boko Haram is behind a series of bomb attacks, mostly in northern Nigeria, in recent times.

The group was also responsible for the June attack on the police headquarters and the August bombing of the UN house, both in the capital city of Abuja.
-0- PANA SEG 17Oct2011