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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Detained Nigeria sect head 'dead' | Detained Nigeria sect head 'dead' |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in custody, police officials say. | The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in custody, police officials say. |
| The announcement came just hours after police said they had captured Mohammed Yusuf in the city of Maiduguri. | The announcement came just hours after police said they had captured Mohammed Yusuf in the city of Maiduguri. |
| Mr Yusuf leads Boko Haram, which wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. | Mr Yusuf leads Boko Haram, which wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. |
| His followers have been blamed for violence in the north-east that has left more than 300 people dead. | His followers have been blamed for violence in the north-east that has left more than 300 people dead. |
| "He has been killed. You can come and see his body at the state police command headquarters," said Isa Azare, spokesman for the Maiduguri police command, told Reuters news agency. | "He has been killed. You can come and see his body at the state police command headquarters," said Isa Azare, spokesman for the Maiduguri police command, told Reuters news agency. |
| He was arrested earlier in the day, after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. | He was arrested earlier in the day, after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. |
| Troops had stormed the sect's stronghold on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. | |
| The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the northeast. | |
| Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city's police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces. | |
| Several days of gun battles between militants and Nigerian security forces ensured, culminating in the assault on the militant's stronghold. |