Islamist Extremists Claim Responsibility For Nigeria Jailbreak

Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in bomb and gun attacks in Nigeria this year.

Gunmen have stormed a prison in central Nigeria, killing one warden and freeing up to 200 prisoners.

Prison authorities said 25 inmates have been recaptured since the jailbreak early on February 16 in the central Kogi state.

The authorities refused to speculate on the identity of the gunmen, but a purported spokesman for the Boko Haram Islamist extremist sect claimed responsibility.

The spokesman who went by the name of Abul Qaqa said the group staged the operation to rescue seven of its members.

Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in bomb and gun attacks in Nigeria this year.

In September 2010, Boko Haram gunmen attacked a prison in northern Bauchi state, freeing about 700 inmates.

Nigeria's 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south.

Compiled from agency reports