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Nigerian Islamist attacks spread | Nigerian Islamist attacks spread |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Islamist militants have staged three co-ordinated attacks in northern Nigeria leaving dozens dead, a day after a similar number was killed. | |
A BBC reporter has counted 50 bodies 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. | |
Some of the militants follow a preacher who campaigns against Western schools. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
'Education is prohibited' | 'Education is prohibited' |
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. | |
There are unconfirmed reports of more deaths in Maiduguri, as well as 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. | |
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. |
The security forces have confirmed Monday's attacks but have not released any casualty figures. | The security forces have confirmed Monday's 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. |
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. | |
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. |
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