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Nigeria Imposes Curfews in Abuja


Firefighters trying to extinguish a fire after a bomb blast at the parking lot of police headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, June 16, 2011
Firefighters trying to extinguish a fire after a bomb blast at the parking lot of police headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, June 16, 2011

Nigeria has imposed curfews on nightclubs, bars, movies theaters and parks in the capital, Abuja, following several deadly bombing attacks.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has ordered parks and gardens to close by 6:00 p.m. while nightclubs, bars, and movie theaters are allowed to stay open until 10:00 p.m. daily.

The agency said the curfew is necessary to ensure the safety of people and property following bombings blamed on the radical Boko Haram Islamic group.

On Sunday, suspected Boko Haram members threw a bomb into a beer garden in northeastern Nigeria, killing 25 people and wounding at least 12 others.

Earlier this month, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside Nigeria's national police headquarters in Abuja that killed several police officers.

Boko Haram is pushing to impose strict Islamic law across the north. It launched a brief uprising against the government in July 2009, sparking a heavy military response and a week of fighting that killed 700 people.

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