Nigeria delays elections to fight Boko Haram

Nigeria’s electoral commission is to postpone presidential and legislative elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure north-eastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official has said.

Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead on February 14 while the Islamic extremists hold a large area of the north east and continue the violence that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.