Seven schools burnt down, Islamist group suspected

Arsonists have burnt down seven schools in northeastern Nigeria over the past few days, the authorities said Thursday, blaming the violent Islamist sect Boko Haram.

No casualties were reported, but the fires left thousands of children without schools in the middle of their term.

Boko Haram, a movement styled after the Taliban, is waging a low-level insurgency against the government.