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Security boosted in north Nigeria | Security boosted in north Nigeria |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Nigerian authorities have stepped up security across the north of the country, following two days of violence in which at least 100 people have died. | The Nigerian authorities have stepped up security across the north of the country, following two days of violence in which at least 100 people have died. |
Soldiers have set up road blocks and imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews in the worst affected areas of Yobe, Kano and Borno States. | |
Islamist militants staged attacks on police and government offices. | Islamist militants staged attacks on police and government offices. |
There have been reports of youths armed with machetes and guns killing police officers and civilians at random. | There have been reports of youths armed with machetes and guns killing police officers and civilians at random. |
Nigeria's military and police have been ordered to use all means necessary to contain the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos reports. | Nigeria's military and police have been ordered to use all means necessary to contain the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos reports. |
Gun battles | Gun battles |
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that police stations had been attacked and civilians pulled from their cars and shot dead. | Eyewitnesses told the BBC that police stations had been attacked and civilians pulled from their cars and shot dead. |
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. |
In the town worst affected by the violence, Maiduguri in Borno State, bodies of residents and militants have been piled outside the police station and in the streets. | In the town worst affected by the violence, Maiduguri in Borno State, bodies of residents and militants have been piled outside the police station and in the streets. |
A BBC reporter there counted 100 corpses. | A BBC reporter there counted 100 corpses. |
Some of the militants are believed to be supporters of a preacher based in Maiduguri, Mohammed Yusuf, who says Western education is against Islamic teaching. | Some of the militants are believed to be supporters of a preacher based in Maiduguri, Mohammed Yusuf, who says Western education is against Islamic teaching. |
Nigeria's police are understood to be searching for him. | Nigeria's police are understood to be searching for him. |
Late on Monday night there were still reports of shooting in Maiduguri. | Late on Monday night there were still reports of shooting in Maiduguri. |
Earlier, witnesses told the BBC that a battle had raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State, where a police station and neighbouring buildings were reportedly razed. | Earlier, witnesses told the BBC that a battle had raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State, where a police station and neighbouring buildings were reportedly razed. |
There was also attacks on police in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. | There was also attacks on police in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. |
Security is said to have been particularly 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 particularly 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 are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited". | Mr Yusuf's followers are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited". |
Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Nigeria's anti-education preacher Fear and tension after attack | Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Nigeria's anti-education preacher Fear and tension after attack |
Youths began attacking police stations on Sunday after some of the group's leaders were arrested. | Youths began attacking police stations on Sunday after some of the group's leaders were arrested. |
Correspondents say Boko Haram has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, culture and science are sinful. | Correspondents say Boko Haram has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, culture and science are sinful. |
Reuters news agency reports that one of the group's leaders, arrested in Kano state, said his followers were standing up for their faith. | Reuters news agency reports that one of the group's leaders, arrested in Kano state, said his followers were standing up for their faith. |
"Even if I'm arrested, there are more to do the job," Abdulmuni Ibrahim Mohammed is quoted as saying. | "Even if I'm arrested, there are more to do the job," Abdulmuni Ibrahim Mohammed is quoted as saying. |
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. |
The country'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. | The country'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. |
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 |