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| Nigerian militants raid northern city of Damaturu | Nigerian militants raid northern city of Damaturu |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Suspected Boko Haram militants have engaged security forces in a lengthy gun battle and raided a hospital in the northern Nigerian city of Damaturu. | Suspected Boko Haram militants have engaged security forces in a lengthy gun battle and raided a hospital in the northern Nigerian city of Damaturu. |
| Residents told the BBC that it was a "big, audacious attack" and that assailants stole drugs from the hospital and drove off in ambulances. | Residents told the BBC that it was a "big, audacious attack" and that assailants stole drugs from the hospital and drove off in ambulances. |
| Meanwhile, the military said it had killed 74 suspected Boko Haram militants in a raid in Borno state. | Meanwhile, the military said it had killed 74 suspected Boko Haram militants in a raid in Borno state. |
| Authorities have recently stepped up their campaign against the militants. | Authorities have recently stepped up their campaign against the militants. |
| North-eastern Nigeria is the focus of an insurgency by the group that began in 2009 and aims to create an Islamic state. | North-eastern Nigeria is the focus of an insurgency by the group that began in 2009 and aims to create an Islamic state. |
| President Goodluck Jonathan urged the military to up its campaign against Boko Haram five months ago. | President Goodluck Jonathan urged the military to up its campaign against Boko Haram five months ago. |
| Damaturu is the main city in Yobe state, which lies to the west of Borno. It has been calm for more than a year, and there is a large military presence in there. | Damaturu is the main city in Yobe state, which lies to the west of Borno. It has been calm for more than a year, and there is a large military presence in there. |
| 'Slow response' | 'Slow response' |
| Nonetheless, gunfire rocked the city for some seven hours after a group of about 20 gunmen - some in military uniform - targeted the hospital late on Thursday. | Nonetheless, gunfire rocked the city for some seven hours after a group of about 20 gunmen - some in military uniform - targeted the hospital late on Thursday. |
| Clashes between militants and the security forces spread to other parts of the city. A health worker described seeing a police vehicle ferrying corpses to the mortuary. | Clashes between militants and the security forces spread to other parts of the city. A health worker described seeing a police vehicle ferrying corpses to the mortuary. |
| The resident who described the attack as "audacious" said the gunfire was heavy, continuous, and loud. | |
| He also said that people in Damaturu were surprised that it had taken the military at least an hour to respond. | He also said that people in Damaturu were surprised that it had taken the military at least an hour to respond. |
| Authorities later imposed a 24-hour curfew, and streets were deserted on Friday. | Authorities later imposed a 24-hour curfew, and streets were deserted on Friday. |
| The military raid in Borno state involved "ground and aerial assault" and "led to the destruction of the identified terrorist camps," said army spokesman Lt Mohammed Dole. | The military raid in Borno state involved "ground and aerial assault" and "led to the destruction of the identified terrorist camps," said army spokesman Lt Mohammed Dole. |
| Lt Dole said the latest raid had been carried out on Thursday and that two soldiers had been wounded. | Lt Dole said the latest raid had been carried out on Thursday and that two soldiers had been wounded. |
| The BBC's Will Ross reports from Nigeria that it seems surprising that Boko Haram camps are still being found, given all the resources available to the army. | The BBC's Will Ross reports from Nigeria that it seems surprising that Boko Haram camps are still being found, given all the resources available to the army. |
| The army's claims about military operations against the group are hard to verify - there has been no mobile phone network in Borno state since the latest offensive was launched. | The army's claims about military operations against the group are hard to verify - there has been no mobile phone network in Borno state since the latest offensive was launched. |
| Nigeria's campaign has been criticised by human rights groups. | Nigeria's campaign has been criticised by human rights groups. |
| Amnesty International said earlier this month that hundreds had died in detention in north-eastern Nigeria, some from starvation or extra-judicial killings. | Amnesty International said earlier this month that hundreds had died in detention in north-eastern Nigeria, some from starvation or extra-judicial killings. |
| Nigeria's interior said the report was "not true". | Nigeria's interior said the report was "not true". |