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| Nigerian Islamist fighters 'flee' | Nigerian Islamist fighters 'flee' |
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| Members of a Nigerian Islamist radical sect have fled the northern city of Maiduguri after the military overran their enclave, reports say. | Members of a Nigerian Islamist radical sect have fled the northern city of Maiduguri after the military overran their enclave, reports say. |
| The army has stormed the base of Boko Haram's leader and militants were fleeing the city, according to journalists and the army. | The army has stormed the base of Boko Haram's leader and militants were fleeing the city, according to journalists and the army. |
| It came after the military drafted in 1,000 extra soldiers. | It came after the military drafted in 1,000 extra soldiers. |
| Earlier reports said the army had lost ground to militants who were using civilians as human shields. | Earlier reports said the army had lost ground to militants who were using civilians as human shields. |
| At one point the local authorities said sect members had taken over six districts of the city. | At one point the local authorities said sect members had taken over six districts of the city. |
| We have taken over their enclave, they are on the run and we are going after them Col Ben AhanotuNigerian military Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack Nigerian attacks: Your reaction | We have taken over their enclave, they are on the run and we are going after them Col Ben AhanotuNigerian military Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack Nigerian attacks: Your reaction |
| Boko Haram says it is fighting against Western education. It believes Nigeria's government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Taliban-style rule imposed across Nigeria. | Boko Haram says it is fighting against Western education. It believes Nigeria's government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Taliban-style rule imposed across Nigeria. |
| More than 200 people have been killed in four days of clashes since an estimated 1,000 well-armed militants began attacking police stations and government buildings in Maiduguri. | More than 200 people have been killed in four days of clashes since an estimated 1,000 well-armed militants began attacking police stations and government buildings in Maiduguri. |
| President Umaru Yar'Adua earlier ordered Nigeria's national security agencies to take all necessary action to contain and repel attacks by the extremists. | President Umaru Yar'Adua earlier ordered Nigeria's national security agencies to take all necessary action to contain and repel attacks by the extremists. |
| The BBC's Caroline Duffield reports from Lagos that the sect appears to be larger than the authorities previously thought and the government has been taken aback by events. | The BBC's Caroline Duffield reports from Lagos that the sect appears to be larger than the authorities previously thought and the government has been taken aback by events. |
| The officer commanding the operation, Col Ben Ahanotu, said on Wednesday night: "We have taken over their enclave, they are on the run and we are going after them," reports AFP news agency. | The officer commanding the operation, Col Ben Ahanotu, said on Wednesday night: "We have taken over their enclave, they are on the run and we are going after them," reports AFP news agency. |
| The military told the BBC personal items found on the bodies of young men indicated that many had come from neighbouring Chad and Niger. | The military told the BBC personal items found on the bodies of young men indicated that many had come from neighbouring Chad and Niger. |
| Security forces flooded into Maiduguri and began shelling sect leader Mohammed Yusuf's compound on Tuesday. | Security forces flooded into Maiduguri and began shelling sect leader Mohammed Yusuf's compound on Tuesday. |
| Fierce fighting continued through the night and into Wednesday with the militants returning heavy gunfire. | Fierce fighting continued through the night and into Wednesday with the militants returning heavy gunfire. |
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| Pictures from Monday in Bauchi show the aftermath of violence | Pictures from Monday in Bauchi show the aftermath of violence |
| Also on Wednesday police freed about 100 women and children who were being held by the sect in a building in Maiduguri. | Also on Wednesday police freed about 100 women and children who were being held by the sect in a building in Maiduguri. |
| The captives told the BBC they had been held six days, living on dates and water. | The captives told the BBC they had been held six days, living on dates and water. |
| Many of the women said their husbands were Boko Haram followers, and that they had been forced to travel to Maiduguri from other parts of Nigeria. | Many of the women said their husbands were Boko Haram followers, and that they had been forced to travel to Maiduguri from other parts of Nigeria. |
| Four states in northern Nigeria have been affected by Boko Haram unrest - Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Yobe. | Four states in northern Nigeria have been affected by Boko Haram unrest - Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Yobe. |
| A total of 103 deaths were officially reported in Maiduguri and reports say more than 50 people died in Bauchi and Yobe, but the true number of casualties may be much greater. There were also reports of Christian churches being torched. | A total of 103 deaths were officially reported in Maiduguri and reports say more than 50 people died in Bauchi and Yobe, but the true number of casualties may be much greater. There were also reports of Christian churches being torched. |
| 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 & 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 |