Nigeria arrests Islamist leader

One of the leaders of Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been arrested after a shoot-out in the northern city of Kano, the BBC reported.

The Boko Haram Islamist militant group has staged attacks across northern and central Nigeria
The Boko Haram Islamist militant group has staged attacks across northern and central Nigeria

Muhammed "Hamza" Aliyu was held as he tried to flee the city after an exchange of fire outside his residence, they said.

Three police officers and four militants were killed, according to Kano state police chief Ibrahim Idris.

Boko Haram has staged numerous attacks across northern and central Nigeria.

The group, whose name means Western education is forbidden, often targets the security forces and state institutions.

In August it claimed responsibility for a bomb at the UN headquarters in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, which killed at least 23 people.