Mar 1, 8:58 AM EST


Nigeria: 17 police officers detained over shooting


MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) -- A Nigerian police official says 17 officers have been detained for questioning after a video supposedly showed officers executing people after religious rioting.

Police spokesman Yemi Ajyai said Monday the 17 officers were taken to Abuja for questioning over the videotape, which aired on the Arab TV network Al-Jazeera last month.

The killings supposedly took place last year after clashes with Muslim militants in northern Nigeria.

The footage shows two uniformed men forcing seven young men to lie face-down at the side of a busy road. The uniformed men then fire into the men's backs. The footage could not be authenticated by The Associated Press.

Boko Haram sect militants sparked violence in late July that left 700 people dead.

SOURCE: http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_NIGERIA_VIOLENCE?SITE=PAYOK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-03-01-08-58-39