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| Detained Nigeria sect leader dies | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in police custody, police officials have said. | |
| Officials said Mohammed Yusuf was shot while trying to escape. They had announced his capture hours earlier. | |
| Mr Yusuf led Boko Haram, which wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. | 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. |
| Mr Yusuf was held and later shot in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. | |
| "Mohammed Yusuf was killed by security forces in a shootout while trying to escape," the regional police assistant inspector-general, Moses Anegbode, told Nigerian television. | |
| A spokesman for the state governor told the Associated Press news agency: "I saw his body at police headquarters. I believe he was shot while he was trying to escape." | |
| State television showed jubilant police celebrating round his body, AFP news agency reported. | |
| 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. |
| Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack Nigerian attacks: Your reaction | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 violence? Send us your comments. | Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the violence? 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 |