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| Detained Nigeria sect leader dead | Detained Nigeria sect leader dead |
| (10 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 led 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. | |
| '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. |
| Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack Nigerian attacks: Your reaction | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Red Cross said about 3,500 people had fled the fighting and were being housed in their camp. | |
| Witnesses and human rights groups have accused the military of excessive violence in quelling the militants, but the army says it used a minimal amount of force. | |
| Police say Mr Yusuf was a 39-year-old preacher from Yobe state, who had four wives and 12 children. | |
| They described him as a motivational character. | |
| His sect, Boko Haram, is against Western education. It believes Nigeria's government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria. | |
| 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 violence? Send us your comments. | |
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