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| Nigeria riot city 'under control' | Nigeria riot city 'under control' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Nigerian city at the centre of days of deadly violence has been regained by security forces, witnesses say, after a militant Islamic sect was routed. | The Nigerian city at the centre of days of deadly violence has been regained by security forces, witnesses say, after a militant Islamic sect was routed. |
| Troops stormed the sect's stronghold overnight, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. | Troops stormed the sect's stronghold overnight, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. |
| Residents say the city is calm, but the streets are littered with corpses and thousands of people are homeless. | Residents say the city is calm, but the streets are littered with corpses and thousands of people are homeless. |
| The sect, known as Boko Haram, wants to overthrow the government and impose an extreme version of Islamic law. | The sect, known as Boko Haram, wants to overthrow the government and impose an extreme version of Islamic law. |
| The group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, is thought to have escaped the assault on his stronghold along with several hundred of his followers. | The group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, is thought to have escaped the assault on his stronghold along with several hundred of his followers. |
| In a news conference on Thursday the police released further details of Mr Yusuf and his group. | In a news conference on Thursday the police released further details of Mr Yusuf and his group. |
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| They revealed he was a 39-year-old preacher from Yobe state and described him as a motivational character who had four wives and 12 children. | They revealed he was a 39-year-old preacher from Yobe state and described him as a motivational character who had four wives and 12 children. |
| The police said the group had been founded in the mid-1990s and several of its leading figures had been arrested and released at various points over the years. | The police said the group had been founded in the mid-1990s and several of its leading figures had been arrested and released at various points over the years. |
| Colonel Mohammed Yerima said the operation to catch Mr Yusuf was already well under way. | Colonel Mohammed Yerima said the operation to catch Mr Yusuf was already well under way. |
| "We have his picture, we have his details and the long arm of the law will catch up with him," he said. | "We have his picture, we have his details and the long arm of the law will catch up with him," he said. |
| The army and police face allegations from rights groups and witnesses that they used excessive force in flushing out the militants, but Col Yerima denied this. | The army and police face allegations from rights groups and witnesses that they used excessive force in flushing out the militants, but Col Yerima denied this. |
| He said the militants had used AK47s, bombs and rocket-launchers and the military had replied with the "barest minimum force". | He said the militants had used AK47s, bombs and rocket-launchers and the military had replied with the "barest minimum force". |
| He also reiterated the security forces' position that civilians were not put at risk. | He also reiterated the security forces' position that civilians were not put at risk. |
| Stronghold assault | Stronghold assault |
| The Red Cross said about 3,500 people had fled the fighting and were being housed in their camp. Some 200 were injured in the fighting. | The Red Cross said about 3,500 people had fled the fighting and were being housed in their camp. Some 200 were injured in the fighting. |
| An official with the charity, Malam Aliyu Maikano, said the government should help out. | An official with the charity, Malam Aliyu Maikano, said the government should help out. |
| "The situation is calm even though dead bodies are littered everywhere. We advise the state government to evacuate the dead bodies," he told the BBC. | "The situation is calm even though dead bodies are littered everywhere. We advise the state government to evacuate the dead bodies," he told the BBC. |
| The fighting began on Sunday night in Bauchi state and spread to Maiduguri the next night. | The fighting began on Sunday night in Bauchi state and spread to Maiduguri the next night. |
| Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city's police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces. | Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city's police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces. |
| Over the next few nights gun battles raged between the militants and police and army, culminating in the assault on the militant's stronghold on Wednesday night. | Over the next few nights gun battles raged between the militants and police and army, culminating in the assault on the militant's stronghold on Wednesday night. |
| Witnesses described seeing about 100 bodies strewn around the complex, and said a mosque used by the militants had been shelled into the ground. | Witnesses described seeing about 100 bodies strewn around the complex, and said a mosque used by the militants had been shelled into the ground. |
| It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence - some estimates say 600, although there has not yet been official confirmation. | It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence - some estimates say 600, although there has not yet been official confirmation. |
| Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence. | Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence. |
| 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 |