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Nigerian Islamist attacks spread | Nigerian Islamist attacks spread |
(10 minutes later) | |
Islamist militants have attacked Nigerian police in two more northern states, after at least 39 people were killed on Sunday. | Islamist militants have attacked Nigerian police in two more northern states, after at least 39 people were killed on Sunday. |
Eyewitnesses told the BBC a gun battle had raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station set on fire. | Eyewitnesses told the BBC a gun battle had raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station set on fire. |
A self-styled "Taliban" group which has staged previous attacks also clashed with the security forces in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno State. | A self-styled "Taliban" group which has staged previous attacks also clashed with the security forces in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno State. |
A curfew has been imposed in Bauchi city after Sunday's violence. | A curfew has been imposed in Bauchi city after 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 140 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. | |
Anti-education | Anti-education |
Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the Taliban launched their raid in Maiduguri. | Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the Taliban launched their raid in Maiduguri. |
The police station and neighbouring buildings have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say. | The police station and neighbouring buildings have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say. |
People are reported to be fleeing central Maiduguri. | People are reported to be fleeing central Maiduguri. |
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. |
It is not clear if Monday's attacks are linked to the violence on Sunday, which was carried out by a different group. | It is not clear if Monday's attacks are linked to the violence on Sunday, which was carried out by a different group. |
However the BBC's Ahmed Idris in Abuja says both the Taliban and Boko Haram, the group in Bauchi, campaign against Western-style education. | However the BBC's Ahmed Idris in Abuja says both the Taliban and Boko Haram, the group in Bauchi, campaign against Western-style education. |
The security forces have confirmed the attacks but have not released any casualty figures. | The security forces have confirmed the attacks but have not released any casualty figures. |
Medical sources have told the BBC that two police officers have been taken to hospital in Potiskum. | Medical sources have told the BBC that two police officers have been taken to hospital in Potiskum. |
The Taliban came to prominence after attacking police stations in Borno State in 2004. |