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Nigerian sect leader 'captured' | Nigerian sect leader 'captured' |
(30 minutes later) | |
The leader of the Nigerian Islamist sect which has been battling security forces in the north-east of the country has been captured, say police. | The leader of the Nigerian Islamist sect which has been battling security forces in the north-east of the country has been captured, say police. |
Mohammed Yusuf had fled the northern city of Maiduguri during the recent fighting between his followers and the Nigerian military. | Mohammed Yusuf had fled the northern city of Maiduguri during the recent fighting between his followers and the Nigerian military. |
Scores of people are believed to have died in the unrest. | Scores of people are believed to have died in the unrest. |
The group, known as Boko Haram, wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. | The group, known as Boko Haram, wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. |
Troops stormed the sect's stronghold overnight, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. | |
Their leader, Mr Yusuf, is thought to have escaped the assault on his stronghold along with several hundred of his followers. | |
"Mohammed Yusuf has been arrested. He is now at the Giwa barracks," said police commissioner Christopher Dega, referring to the military base in Maiduguri. | "Mohammed Yusuf has been arrested. He is now at the Giwa barracks," said police commissioner Christopher Dega, referring to the military base in Maiduguri. |
A BBC reporter in Maiduguri said Mr Yusuf, believed to be a 39-year-old preacher from Yobe state, had been paraded before journalists with no apparent sign of injury. | |
He was reported to have been found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. | He was reported to have been found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. |
Hundreds fled | |
Thousands of people are thought to have fled the fighting in Maiduguri | |
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. | |
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. | |
It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence - some estimates say 600, although there has been no official confirmation. | |
Witnesses said the city was calm on Thursday evening. | |
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. | |
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 |