Lagos, Nigeria - More than 100 suspected members of the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram have been arrested in Nigeria's northern Benue state, the local media reported Monday.

The report said the suspects were arrested since the beginning of the year by the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), and that most of them are from Chad, Niger and Mali.

Benue Governor Gabriel Suswan was quoted as saying the foreigners among the suspects would be deported to their countries.

Attacks by Boko Haram in the predominantly-Muslim northern Nigeria have claimed 935 lives since July 2009, according to figures by Human Rights Watch.

Pana 06/02/2012