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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Detained Nigeria sect leader dead | Detained Nigeria sect leader dead |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in police custody, police officials say. | The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in police custody, police officials say. |
| The news came just hours after security forces said they had captured Mohammed Yusuf in the city of Maiduguri. | The news came just hours after security forces 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. |
| Hundreds of people have died in five days of clashes between his followers and security forces. | Hundreds of people have died in five days of clashes between his followers and security forces. |
| "He has been killed. You can come and see his body at the state police command headquarters," 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," Isa Azare, spokesman for the Maiduguri police command, told Reuters news agency. |
| His bullet-riddled body was shown on state television, AFP news agency said. | His bullet-riddled body was shown on state television, AFP news agency said. |
| Troops had stormed Boko Haram's stronghold on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. | Troops had stormed Boko Haram's stronghold on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. |
| Mr Yusuf was arrested earlier on Thursday, after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. | Mr Yusuf was arrested earlier on Thursday, after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house. |
| BBC News Website Africa Editor Joseph Winter says Nigeria's security forces have a terrible reputation for brutality and human rights groups accuse them of frequent extra-judicial killings. | BBC News Website Africa Editor Joseph Winter says Nigeria's security forces have a terrible reputation for brutality and human rights groups accuse them of frequent extra-judicial killings. |
| 'Gun battles' | 'Gun battles' |
| The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the northeast of the west African nation. | The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the northeast of the west African nation. |
| 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. |
| Several days of gun battles between militants and Nigerian security forces ensued, culminating in the assault on the militant's stronghold. | |
| It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence - some estimates say 600, although there has been no official confirmation. | It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence - some estimates say 600, although there has been no official confirmation. |