Boko Haram destroys phone towers

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MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Terrorists are disrupting communication in Nigeria by bombing mobile phone towers, officials said.

Members of the Boko Haram sect torched equipment Tuesday night in Bauchi and Borno states, disrupting telecommunication services in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in northeastern Nigeria where the radical Islamist sect has its roots, The Guardian newspaper in Nigeria reported Thursday.

A resident of Kumshe Ward in Maiduguri said the attacks appear to be an attempt by Boko Haram to disrupt communication services used in providing information to police and the military Joint Task Force.

Borno Police Commissioner Yuguda Abdullahi said the equipment belonged to telecommunications providers Airtel, Visafone, Etisalat and Glo. The regional office of MTN at the West End Roundabout was also torched, he said.