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Boko Haram crisis: Maiduguri curfew after Nigeria attack Nigeria crisis: Boko Haram blamed for Maiduguri attack
(35 minutes later)
A 24-hour curfew has been imposed in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri after a major attack. Hundreds of suspected Boko Haram militants have attacked a military airbase and other targets in north-eastern Nigeria, eyewitnesses said.
Officials suspect Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group were behind an assault on a military airbase in the early hours of Monday. Several areas of the city of Maiduguri were targeted in the assault which began in the early hours of Monday.
A 24-hour curfew has been imposed in Maiduguri. Its civilian airport was also closed.
A BBC correspondent says the large-scale, co-ordinated attack is a big setback for the Nigerian military.A BBC correspondent says the large-scale, co-ordinated attack is a big setback for the Nigerian military.
Thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its campaign to install Islamic law.Thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when Boko Haram launched its campaign to install Islamic law.
In May, a state of emergency was declared in Borno, of which Maiduguri is the capital, and there has been a massive military deployment to the worst-affected areas. In May, a state of emergency was declared in Borno, of which Maiduguri is the capital, as well as two neighbouring states, while there has been a massive military deployment to the worst-affected areas.
Chants of Allahu Akbar 'Allahu Akbar'
The latest violence began about 03:00 local time (02:00 GMT) and included bomb and gun attacks, an AFP reporter in the city said. Local residents told AFP that hundreds of heavily armed Islamist gunmen besieged an air force and army base, destroying aircraft, razing buildings and setting shops and petrol stations ablaze.
A military official at the airbase said he saw three aircraft and several vehicles hit in the attack, AP reported.
Bomb and gun attacks were carried out in Maiduguri, an AFP reporter in the city said.
"They entered Maiduguri from the bush, chanting 'Allahu Akbar' [God is great]," a Nigerian intelligence officer told the agency."They entered Maiduguri from the bush, chanting 'Allahu Akbar' [God is great]," a Nigerian intelligence officer told the agency.
Another resident said: "We heard women and children in the barracks crying and wailing. At the gate, I saw some vehicles destroyed and the checkpoint there in shreds."
There are reports of military checkpoints being attacked in different parts of the city.
Some eyewitnesses said they had seen bodies with their throats slit.Some eyewitnesses said they had seen bodies with their throats slit.
Others said several vehicles had been driven out of the air base carrying the bodies of victims.Others said several vehicles had been driven out of the air base carrying the bodies of victims.
There are also reports of military checkpoints being attacked in different parts of the city. Government and military officials said scores of people may be dead, AP reported.
Recent Boko Haram attacks have been in more rural areas, and it had appeared as though the military operation had made Maiduguri city far safer, says the BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross.Recent Boko Haram attacks have been in more rural areas, and it had appeared as though the military operation had made Maiduguri city far safer, says the BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross.
Maiduguri's civilian airport has also been closed as a result of the attack.
Mobile phone links to the city have been cut since May, when the state of emergency was declared.Mobile phone links to the city have been cut since May, when the state of emergency was declared.
Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri 2002. Boko Haram was founded in Maiduguri in 2002 and was also the scene of its first uprising, in 2009.