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| Nigeria row over militant killing | Nigeria row over militant killing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nigerian Islamic sect leader Mohammed Yusuf was alive when he was captured, the commander of the operation against the militant group has told the BBC. | Nigerian Islamic sect leader Mohammed Yusuf was alive when he was captured, the commander of the operation against the militant group has told the BBC. |
| The comments by Col Ben Ahanotu appear to contradict police statements that Mr Yusuf, 39, was killed in a shootout as he was being detained. | The comments by Col Ben Ahanotu appear to contradict police statements that Mr Yusuf, 39, was killed in a shootout as he was being detained. |
| Human rights campaigners have alleged Mr Yusuf was executed by the police. | Human rights campaigners have alleged Mr Yusuf was executed by the police. |
| Mr Yusuf's Boko Haram group has been blamed for days of violent clashes with security forces in which hundreds died. | Mr Yusuf's Boko Haram group has been blamed for days of violent clashes with security forces in which hundreds died. |
| His bullet-riddled body was shown to journalists on Thursday just hours after police said they had captured him in the northern city of Maiduguri. | His bullet-riddled body was shown to journalists on Thursday just hours after police said they had captured him in the northern city of Maiduguri. |
| Col Ahanotu, the commander of the operation against the Boko Haram group, said he had personally captured Mr Yusuf and handed him over to the chief of police. | |
| He said Mr Yusuf had been unarmed when caught, hiding in an empty building a short distance from his enclave, and that he gave himself up willingly. | |
| "All I know is that in the attack, I was able to pick him up from his hide out and hand him over to police," he told the BBC. | "All I know is that in the attack, I was able to pick him up from his hide out and hand him over to police," he told the BBC. |
| "I asked him why he did what he has done and his response was that he would explain to me later." | |
| Col Ahanotu said Mr Yusuf had a wound on his arm which had already been treated. | |
| "But he was OK. As I got him alive, I handed him over to the authorities," he said. | |
| Investigation call | |
| Regional police assistant inspector-general, Moses Anegbode, had earlier told Nigerian television Mr Yusuf had been "killed by security forces in a shoot-out while trying to escape". | Regional police assistant inspector-general, Moses Anegbode, had earlier told Nigerian television Mr Yusuf had been "killed by security forces in a shoot-out while trying to escape". |
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| A BBC reporter in the city was among journalists shown two films - one apparently showing Mr Yusuf making a confession, the other showing what appeared to be his body, riddled with bullets. | A BBC reporter in the city was among journalists shown two films - one apparently showing Mr Yusuf making a confession, the other showing what appeared to be his body, riddled with bullets. |
| One policeman told AFP news agency Mr Yusuf had "pleaded for mercy and forgiveness before he was shot." | One policeman told AFP news agency Mr Yusuf had "pleaded for mercy and forgiveness before he was shot." |
| Rights groups have condemned the alleged manner of Mr Yusuf's death. | |
| Human Rights Watch said there should be an immediate investigation into the case, which it has described as an "extrajudicial killing". | |
| Amnesty International called for a full investigation into Mr Yusuf's detention and killing and said that anyone responsible for or tolerating illegal killings should be brought to justice. | |
| Information Minister Dora Akunyili earlier told the BBC that the government "does not condone extrajudicial killings" and that she was concerned about the death | |
| However, Mohammed Yusuf's demise was "positive" for Nigeria, she added. | However, Mohammed Yusuf's demise was "positive" for Nigeria, she added. |
| Boko Haram - also known locally as Taliban - wants to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. | Boko Haram - also known locally as Taliban - wants to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. |
| Troops had stormed Boko Haram's stronghold in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. | Troops had stormed Boko Haram's stronghold in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. |
| The BBC's Bilkisu Babangida says the city is now returning to normal, with shops and banks re-opening. | |
| She says many residents are happy that Mr Yusuf is dead. | |
| 'Excessive force' | |
| The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the north-east of the West African nation. | |
| AT THE SCENE Bilkisu BabangidaBBC News, Maiduguri At about 1600 I was about to leave for home with the rest of the journalists. We received a phone call to return back to the government house because the man, Mohammed Yusuf, had been captured. | |
| So we rushed up to that place. We heard some gunshots from somewhere, then we were told that the man had been "executed" at the police headquarters, at about 1900. | |
| They kept us waiting, they kept all the newsmen away from the scene. | |
| I saw a video and after that I rushed to the police headquarters and I saw the corpse. I even photographed the corpse of Mohammed Yusuf. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 preacher from Yobe state, who had four wives and 12 children. | |
| They described him as a inspirational 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. | 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 |