Boko Haram kills 39, legislator, disrupting Nigeria election

A tired Nigerian woman sits down to rest as others queue, while they face long delays to cast their vote in the afternoon at a polling station in Daura, the home town of opposition candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in northern Nigeria on Saturday, March 28, 2015. A tired Nigerian woman sits down to rest as others queue, while they face long delays to cast their vote in the afternoon at a polling station in Daura, the home town of opposition candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in northern Nigeria on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

By Associated Press March 28, 2015 1 min read

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Witnesses and officials say Boko Haram extremists killed 39 people, including a legislator, in northeastern Nigeria, disrupting the country’s presidential election.

All the attacks took place in the northeast where the military Friday announced it had cleared the Islamic extremists from all major centers.

Residents of the town of Miringa say Boko Haram militants torched people’s homes early Saturday and then shot them as they tried to escape. Twenty-five reportedly died.

Witnesses and officials say another 14 people, including Gombe state legislator Umaru Ali, died later Saturday in attacks on the towns of Biri and Dukku.

Elsewhere, tens of millions of Nigerians took part in the closely contested and largely peaceful presidential election.