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Nigerian militants 'under siege' Nigeria begins assault on rebels
(about 6 hours later)
A group of Nigerian Islamist militants is barricaded inside a district in the city of Maiduguri, after two days of violence in the country's north. Nigerian troops have begun an assault on the home of a radical Islamist leader in the northern city of Maiduguri after three days of violence.
A BBC reporter in the city says the Islamists, known locally as the "Taliban", are shooting at anyone approaching their stronghold. Followers of Mohammed Yusuf barricaded themselves in and around the house after heavy fighting with security forces sent to contain rioting.
The military says it has killed three militants trying to join the group. A BBC correspondent says gunfire can be heard across Maiduguri.
The security forces have been told to use all necessary means to end the unrest, which has killed at least 100. At least 140 people are believed to have been killed since the unrest broke out on Sunday.
The group now under siege by the security forces is occupying an area near Maiduguri's railway station.
Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attackNigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack
It includes shops, schools and the home of their leader Mohammed Yusuf. Also in the area are the mosque where he preaches and the headquarters of the Boko Haram, as his followers are called. Nigeria's security services have been flooding Maiduguri, the city worst affected by the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield reports.
Boko Haram means "Western education is prohibited". Mr Yusuf says young people in the region are being corrupted by the West. They surrounded the area housing the headquarters of Mohammed Yusuf's group, known as Boko Haram.
Although the group is known locally as the "Taliban", they are not thought to have any links to the Afghan group. The group is being blamed for violent attacks on police stations, government buildings and civilians across four states in Nigeria.
It is not known how many people are inside the barricaded area. In another development, Nigerian Christian leaders said they had received no reports of Christians being targeted in the wave of Islamist violence.
The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Nigeria says armoured vehicles and soldiers are pouring into the city. "As things stand, there is no report of Christians being killed or churches being attacked, but religious leaders have called on the government to protect law-abiding citizens and religious structures," said Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, chairman of the Social Communications Commission of the Nigerian bishops' conference.
She says the militants are shooting indiscriminately at civilians and hundreds are fleeing the district. State of alert
Bodies piled up Explosions and gunshots could be heard from the Doidamgari area, where the Boko Haram have their spiritual headquarters.
The Nigerian military has stepped up security in northern Nigeria following the clashes.
ANALYSIS By Caroline Duffield, BBC News, NigeriaANALYSIS 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.
Soldiers set up road blocks and imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews in the worst affected areas of Yobe, Kano and Borno States. President Umaru Yar'Adua ordered Nigeria's national security agencies to take all necessary action to contain and repel attacks by the extremists.
On Tuesday, the military said it had killed three people coming into Maiduguri from Kano State. They were members of Boko Haram, the military said, and were trying to join the group in Maiduguri. "It is the government that has moved to nip a potentially dangerous problem in the bud," he said before leaving on a visit to Brazil.
One of those killed is believed to be a senior member of Boko Haram in Kano. "These people have been organising, penetrating our societies, procuring arms, learning how to make explosives and bombs to disturb the peace and force abuse on the rest of Nigerians.
In the two days of violence, the militants staged attacks on police and government offices. "And I believe the operation we have launched now will be an operation that will contain them once and for all."
There have been reports of youths armed with machetes and guns killing police officers and civilians at random. While Mohamed Yusuf has his family home in Doidamgari, the area is also full of schools, homes, shops and a mosque, our correspondent says.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that police stations were attacked and civilians pulled from their cars and shot dead. Residents and civilians have been told to leave and there are reports of armed men shooting from inside the area.
Maiduguri, in Borno State, has seen the worst violence. The bodies of residents and militants have been piled outside the police station and in the streets. Military aircraft filled with soldiers have been seen taking off from Jos in the neighbouring Plateau state.
A BBC reporter there counted 100 corpses. It is thought the troops are meant to provide support for the armoured vehicles and police already on the ground.
Outside Maiduguri, there is a heightened state of alert across the northern states:
• In the city of Kano, police arrested 53 people after an attack on a police station outside the city on Monday; police also shot and killed three suspected militants as they tried to reach Maiduguri
• In Sokoto, in the far north-west, police arrested five men said to have been caught in the act of planning an attack
• In Bauchi, scene of the first bloodshed on Sunday, 176 people remain under arrest
Bodies in the streets
A BBC reporter counted about 100 bodies of residents and militants in the streets of Maiduguri on Monday.
Maiduguri police said 103 had died in the violence in the city, including 90 members of Boko Haram, eight police officers, three prison officials and two soldiers.
At least 39 people were killed in the violence in Bauchi.
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 in the north and Christians in the south.The country's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.
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.
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