E-Paper
4 charged over UN HQ bombing in Nigeria
Authorities have charged four men over a deadly bombing at United Nations headquarters in Nigeria that killed 23 people.
Authorities have charged four men over a deadly bombing at United Nations headquarters in Nigeria that killed 23 people.
Charges were filed against the four men on Friday in the magistrates' court in the country's capital Abuja.
The August 26 suicide blast was claimed by a radical Muslim sect in Nigeria known locally as Boko Haram.
The men - Abdusalami Adamu, Danzumi Haruna, Salisu Mohammed and Musa Mukailu - all from northern Kano state appeared before magistrate Azubuike Okegu who decided to transfer the case to a high court after charges were read.
The bombing also wounded 116 people.
The four men were among 19 men brought to court for belonging to Islamic Boko Haram sect.
Boko Haram sect wants wider practice of Islamic sharia system in the oil-rich West African country with 150 million people equally distributed among Christians and Muslims.
The sect has been linked to al-Qaeda's franchise in the Maghreb, El-Shabab and recruits members in neighbouring Niger republic.
Its leader Muhammed Yusuf was killed in 2006 by the Nigerian police after a confrontation with the members of the radical group that led to the killing of at least 800 people in two weeks.
Since then, the group has shot and killed several local politicians, security operatives, and traditional leaders.
