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Hunt for Nigerian Islamist sect Nigeria army fights Islamist sect
(about 2 hours later)
Nigerian troops are tracking down members of an Islamist sect who went on a killing spree in northern cities. Heavy fighting continued overnight between the Nigerian military and members of a radical Islamist sect in the northern town of Maiduguri.
Soldiers are searching areas near the home of sect leader Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Gunshots could still be heard in the morning as troops searched areas near the home of sect leader Mohammed Yusuf in the capital of Borno state.
On Tuesday the army shelled the compound, exchanging heavy gunfire with militants. At least 140 people have been killed in three days of violence. At least 150 people in northern Nigeria have been killed in the last four days.
The sect, known as Boko Haram, is blamed for launching attacks on police stations and government buildings.
On Tuesday the army shelled Mohammed Yusuf's compound, and exchanged heavy gunfire with militants through the night.
President Umaru Yar'Adua said the army had acted to nip a potentially dangerous problem in the bud.President Umaru Yar'Adua said the army had acted to nip a potentially dangerous problem in the bud.
Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attackNigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack
Nigeria's security services have been flooding into Maiduguri, the city worst affected by the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield reports.Nigeria's security services have been flooding into Maiduguri, the city worst affected by the violence, the BBC's Caroline Duffield reports.
Maj Gen Saleh Maina told the Associated Press news agency that troops were hunting for sect members in homes and a mosque and near the railway station. He said the operation was being carried out "to prevent further loss of lives and property".Maj Gen Saleh Maina told the Associated Press news agency that troops were hunting for sect members in homes and a mosque and near the railway station. He said the operation was being carried out "to prevent further loss of lives and property".
Residents and civilians have been told to leave the area. Civilians were warned to vacate the district but on Wednesday morning women and children were still leaving the area.
Mr Yusuf's group, known as Boko Haram, is being blamed for attacks on police stations and government buildings in four states in Nigeria. Four states in northern Nigeria have been affected by the violence involving Boko Haram - Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Yobe.
Many civilians were also shot dead or stabbed at random. The group is alleged to have shot dead or stabbed civilians at random but many of those killed are young men said to belong to the sect.
Boko Haram is against Western education. It believes Nigeria's government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria.Boko Haram is against Western education. It believes Nigeria's government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria.
State of alertState of alert
Late on Tuesday, explosions and gunshots could be heard from the Doidamgari area of Maiduguri, where Mohammed Yusuf's home is situated and the Boko Haram have their spiritual headquarters. Throughout the night, gunshots could be heard from the Doidamgari area of Maiduguri, where Mohammed Yusuf's home is situated and the Boko Haram has its spiritual headquarters.
Offices and buildings were razed in the violence
President Umaru Yar'Adua ordered Nigeria's national security agencies to take all necessary action to contain and repel attacks by the extremists.President Umaru Yar'Adua ordered Nigeria's national security agencies to take all necessary action to contain and repel attacks by the extremists.
"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. "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," he said before departing on a trip to Brazil.
"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.
"And I believe the operation we have launched now will be an operation that will contain them once and for all."
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
President Yar'Adua said 'a potentially dangerous problem' had been tackled
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.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.
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The aftermath of gun battles with the militants
Outside Maiduguri, there is a heightened state of alert across the northern states.
In Bauchi, scene of the first bloodshed on Sunday, 176 people remain under arrest.
At least 39 people were killed in the violence in Bauchi.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.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions