Nigeria sect members killed in explosion

Five suspected members of a radical Islamist sect were killed in an explosion that struck a small town in the country’s restive north east, Nigeria’s military said.

Colonel Victor Ebhaleme said the blast struck the town of Biu in Borno state, where the sect known as Boko Haram has carried out a series of attacks in recent months.

Col Ebhaleme said investigators arrived in Biu after the explosion and found the remains of five people they believe belong to Boko Haram.

He said two others were arrested in the operation.

Boko Haram is waging an increasingly bloody fight against Nigeria’s weak central government in its effort to enact strict Shariah law across the multi-ethnic nation of more than 160 million people and free its imprisoned members.