UPDATE: Close to 200 churches have been destroyed by Boko Haram forces in northern Nigeria in the last 60 days, according to Catholic news agency, Agenzia Fides.

The latest ransacking of towns and villages has left more than 190,000 people newly displaced in the lead up to what should have been a period of celebrating Nigeria’s independence day.

In an attempt to combat the advance of Boko Haram, leaders of Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have agreed to set up a command centre by 20 November for the deployment of a multi-national force.

Source: Agenzia Fides, Reuters