Police: Church attack foiled in northern Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Police say they've foiled a church attack engineered by a radical Muslim sect in northeastern Nigeria.

Borno state police commissioner Mohammed Abubakar said Wednesday that the attackers were chased away by security officers Tuesday evening.

The police accuse a radical Muslim sect locally known as Boko Haram of being behind a rash of targeted killings in the area.

The radical group was thought to be vanquished in 2009 after its leader was arrested and died in police custody.

A year later, Maiduguri and surrounding villages again live in fear of the group, whose members have previously attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break.