‘Nigerian Taliban’ leader killed

THE leader of a radical Islamic sect blamed for violent clashes between his followers and government forces has been shot dead in police custody.

Mohammed Yusuf, the head of the group known as the Nigerian Taliban, was killed after being captured at the end of a four-day manhunt.

Witnesses said the northern city of Maidugiri, Yusuf’s base and the capital of Borno state, was calm yesterday.

Experts said it was not clear yet if Yusuf’s death would end the violence in northern Nigeria or inspire revenge attacks by the Boko Haram sect, which seeks the imposition of strict Islamic Shariah law.