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| Nigerian Islamist attacks spread | Nigerian Islamist attacks spread |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Dozens of people have been killed after Islamist militants staged three attacks in northern Nigeria, taking the total killed in two days of violence to 150. | Dozens of people have been killed after Islamist militants staged three attacks in northern Nigeria, taking the total killed in two days of violence to 150. |
| A BBC reporter has counted 100 bodies, mostly of militants, near the police headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, where hundreds are fleeing their homes. | A BBC reporter has counted 100 bodies, mostly of militants, near the police headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, where hundreds are fleeing their homes. |
| Witnesses told the BBC a gun battle raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station was set on fire. | Witnesses told the BBC a gun battle raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station was set on fire. |
| Some of the militants follow a preacher who campaigns against Western schools. | Some of the militants follow a preacher who campaigns against Western schools. |
| ANALYSIS By Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Nigeria | ANALYSIS By Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Nigeria |
| Tensions are never far from the surface in northern Nigeria. Poverty and competition for scarce resources, along with ethnic, cultural and religious differences have all fuelled sudden violence. | Tensions are never far from the surface in northern Nigeria. Poverty and competition for scarce resources, along with ethnic, cultural and religious differences have all fuelled sudden violence. |
| But the latest violence is not between communities, it involves young men from religious groups, arming themselves and attacking local police. | But the latest violence is not between communities, it involves young men from religious groups, arming themselves and attacking local police. |
| Fringe religious groups in Nigeria have claimed links to the Taliban before - individuals have also been accused of links to al-Qaeda. But Nigeria is very different to countries like Mali or Algeria, where groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb operate. | Fringe religious groups in Nigeria have claimed links to the Taliban before - individuals have also been accused of links to al-Qaeda. But Nigeria is very different to countries like Mali or Algeria, where groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb operate. |
| The idea of radical Islamist militants gaining a serious foothold in Nigeria is usually dismissed, because of the strength of local identities and traditions. | The idea of radical Islamist militants gaining a serious foothold in Nigeria is usually dismissed, because of the strength of local identities and traditions. |
| The preacher, Mohammed Yusuf, says Western education is against Islamic teaching. | The preacher, Mohammed Yusuf, says Western education is against Islamic teaching. |
| There has also been an attack in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. | There has also been an attack in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. |
| A curfew is in force in Bauchi, the scene of Sunday's violence. | A curfew is in force in Bauchi, the scene of Sunday's violence. |
| Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence in the country. | Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence in the country. |
| Nigeria's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, despite occasional outbreaks of communal violence. | Nigeria's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, despite occasional outbreaks of communal violence. |
| Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the raid was launched in Maiduguri. | Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the raid was launched in Maiduguri. |
| The police station and neighbouring buildings in Potiskum have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say. | The police station and neighbouring buildings in Potiskum have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say. |
| Two people have been confirmed dead and the police have made 23 arrests. | Two people have been confirmed dead and the police have made 23 arrests. |
| Fringe group | Fringe group |
| The corpses of civilians are scattered around the streets of Maiduguri, after being pulled from their cars and shot, eyewitnesses say. | The corpses of civilians are scattered around the streets of Maiduguri, after being pulled from their cars and shot, eyewitnesses say. |
| Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Nigeria's anti-education preacher class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8171482.stm">Fear and tension after attack | |
| The police and army are patrolling, firing into the air, apparently trying to clear civilians from the area. | The police and army are patrolling, firing into the air, apparently trying to clear civilians from the area. |
| There are unconfirmed reports of a jailbreak in the town. | There are unconfirmed reports of a jailbreak in the town. |
| In Wudil, three people have been killed and more than 33 arrested. The senior police officer in Wudil has been wounded. | In Wudil, three people have been killed and more than 33 arrested. The senior police officer in Wudil has been wounded. |
| Security is said to have been beefed up in Plateau State, to the south of Bauchi, where hundreds were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians last year. | Security is said to have been beefed up in Plateau State, to the south of Bauchi, where hundreds were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians last year. |
| Mr Yusuf's followers in Bauchi are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited". | Mr Yusuf's followers in Bauchi are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited". |
| They attacked a police station on Sunday after some of their leaders were arrested. | They attacked a police station on Sunday after some of their leaders were arrested. |
| Correspondents say the group is seen locally as a fringe group and has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, Western culture and science are sinful. | Correspondents say the group is seen locally as a fringe group and has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, Western culture and science are sinful. |
| Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the clashes? Send us your comments. | Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the clashes? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |