{{Nigeria’s interior minister has said the army is making progress in the war against Boko Haram militants, despite the killing of 44 people in a mosque.}}<\/p>\n
Abba Moro dismissed the attack as “desperate” and “isolated”.<\/p>\n
“The security agencies of Nigeria have been able to push the Boko Haram sect from their major strongholds,” he told media.<\/p>\n
Nigeria has declared an emergency in three states after thousands of deaths in militant attacks in recent years.<\/p>\n
Boko Haram is fighting to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.<\/p>\n
The mosque attack happened during dawn prayers on Sunday, although news only emerged on Monday, as communications have been disrupted by the state of emergency.<\/p>\n
It took place in the town of Konduga, 35km (22 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was established in 2002, launching its first attack seven years later.<\/p>\n
Twelve further civilians were killed at Ngom village, closer to Maiduguri, reports say.<\/p>\n
Boko Haram has not commented on the mosque attack but news of it came as a video emerged of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, saying his followers had carried out recent attacks including some that targeted the police and the military.<\/p>\n
{BBC}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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