185 people killed in the fighting between Nigeria's military and Islamic extremists

At least 185 people were killed in the fighting between Nigeria's military and Islamic extremists in Baga on Friday (April 19, 2013). The attack in the country’s far northeast lasted for hours and sent people fleeing into the arid scrublands surrounding the community on Lake Chad. Homes, vehicles and businesses were burned throughout the area while many of the bodies had been burned beyond recognition in fires that razed whole sections of the town.The killings mark one of the deadliest incidents ever involving Boko Haram extremists, who earlier had killed a military officer in the assault. They used heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as well as used civilians as human shields during the fighting.