Politician shot dead in Nigeria

Abuja, May 26 (IANS) A Nigerian politician was shot dead Saturday by gunmen suspected to be from the Islamist sect Boko Haram, the military said.

Alhaji Ahmadu, chairman of the People's Redemption Party in Nafada area of northeastern Gombe state, was killed in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, spokesperson of the Joint Task Force Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told Xinhua.

He said the military has uncovered plans by the sect to attack public buildings during the commemoration of Nigeria's Democracy Day May 29.

Founded in Maiduguri around 2002, Boko Haram aims to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state in the west African country.

The group is known by several different names, including al-Sunnah wal Jamma -- or Followers of the Prophet's Teachings. The official name of the group is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "people committed to the propagation of the prophet's teachings and jihad".

But since its early years, residents have dubbed it Boko Haram, which in the local Hausa language means "Western education is forbidden".