Nigeria accused of failing to act on massacre warnings

Amnesty International has accused Nigeria's military of failing to take action despite repeated warnings about an impending threat posed by Boko Haram on the northeast towns of Baga and Monguno this month.

The UK-based human-rights organisation said that it received information from senior military officers and other sources indicating that defence officials were told about Boko Haram's plans to attack both towns but did not act on requests to send reinforcements.

Africa's Director of Amnesty International, Netsanet Belay, said troops in the town in the north of Borno state reported a build-up of fighters in the area before the attack adding that rebels also warned civilians about an impending strike and several hundred residents consequently fled.

The January 3 attack on Baga reportedly led to the killing of hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of homes, while the takeover of Monguno last weekend was seen as a major setback for the security forces.

ALJAZEERA