Dozens of students 'shot dead' in Nigeria - Aljazeera

At least 25 people, mostly students, killed by unknown gunmen in northeastern town of Mubi, police officials say.

Dozens of college students have been killed by attackers in the northeastern Nigerian town of Mubi in Adamawa state, police say. A senior police official told Al Jazeera that unknown gunmen went into campus hostels used by students at Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and killed at least 25 people. Local officials confirmed that the attack had taken place. Yushau Shuaib, a National Emergency Management Agency spokesperson, said that "a number of people" had died. Local security officials were on their way to the scene. A recent raid on Mubi by the military had uncovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition, with many suspects rounded up. Adamawa state has been hit by violence blamed on Boko Haram, an armed group that is fighting agianst Western influence in Nigeria and wants to form an Islamic state. Officials also pointed out, however, that the school had recently held a students' election. Shuaib said initial reports indicated one of the victims was a candidate in the poll.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies