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At Least 2 Killed in Attack in Niger Delta

09 January 2011 00:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Nigerian officials say at least two people were killed and several wounded in an attack on supporters of a politician in the countryâ€™s oil-rich Niger Delta region, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
Police say the politician, Timi Alabie, was not hurt when gunmen opened fire on his home late Friday in Opokuma in Bayelsa state. His supporters were present for a reception to welcome him back from Abuja, Nigeriaâ€™s capital.
A police spokesman says several people were detained, and an investigation is underway to learn who was behind the attack.
Alabie recently quit as an advisor on the Niger Delta to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and is now running for governor of Bayelsa state.
The incident was the latest in a string of attacks to hit the country.
Last week, several people were injured in a bomb attack on a rally in the Niger Delta for a ruling party candidate running for governor of Bayelsa state.
On Christmas Eve, several bombs went off in the central city of Jos, leaving at least 80 people dead.
A radical Islamist group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the Christmas Eve blasts, which triggered clashes between Muslim and Christian groups in Jos. Nigerian authorities say the attack was politically motivated and aimed at raising tensions between Muslims and Christians before Aprilâ€™s presidential election.