Nigerian sect leader killed

Officials say the leader of the Islamist sect blamed for days of violence in northern Nigeria has been shot and killed while in police custody.

The police commander of Borno state announced on state radio yesterday that Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the sect some call the Nigerian Taliban, has “died in police custody”.

The state governor’s spokesman Usman Ciroma said: “I saw his body at police headquarters. I believe he was shot while he was trying to escape.”