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Nigeria's Boko Haram 'shoots ex-President Obasanjo's son' | Nigeria's Boko Haram 'shoots ex-President Obasanjo's son' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The son of Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been shot and wounded in a battle with militant Islamists, the ex-leader's aide says. | The son of Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been shot and wounded in a battle with militant Islamists, the ex-leader's aide says. |
Lt Col Adeboye Obasanjo was injured as the army fought to recapture the north-eastern town of Michika from Boko Haram, Muhammad Keffi told the BBC. | |
"Scores of insurgents" were also killed in the battle, the military said. | "Scores of insurgents" were also killed in the battle, the military said. |
Last month, Boko Haram declared an Islamic state in areas it controls in north-eastern Nigeria. | Last month, Boko Haram declared an Islamic state in areas it controls in north-eastern Nigeria. |
Experts raised concerns that Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, could break up in a way similar to Iraq and Syria where the militant group Islamic State (IS) has declared a caliphate. | Experts raised concerns that Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, could break up in a way similar to Iraq and Syria where the militant group Islamic State (IS) has declared a caliphate. |
'One Nigeria' | |
Thousands of people are fleeing their homes in Mubi, the second largest city and commercial hub of north-eastern Adamawa state, amid fears that it could be Boko Haram's next target, reports the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi from the capital, Abuja. | |
Boko Haram insurgents have over-run Michika and Bazza, two towns close to Mubi, in recent days, he says. | |
The attack on a platoon headed by Col Obasanjo coincided with a ferocious air assault on the militants, Nigeria's privately owned This Day newspaper reports. | |
Col Obasanjo was in a stable condition in hospital, Mr Keffi told the BBC's Hausa service. | |
His front-line role showed the family's commitment to "one Nigeria", Mr Keffi said. | His front-line role showed the family's commitment to "one Nigeria", Mr Keffi said. |
A total of two officers and three soldiers were wounded in the battle, the military said. | A total of two officers and three soldiers were wounded in the battle, the military said. |
'Cross-border raid' | |
Olusegun Obasanjo fought in Nigeria's 1967-1970 civil war, when the military put down a rebellion to create the breakaway state of Biafra in the south-east. | |
A former military ruler in the late 1970s, he won two elections when Nigeria returned to multi-party democracy in 1999. | |
In May, he said President Goodluck Jonathan was "overwhelmed" by the security situation in the north-east and he should not run for another term in elections due next year. | |
Boko Haram's five-year insurgency is seen as the biggest threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity since the 1967-70 conflict, analysts say. | |
The group has changed tactics in recent months, holding on to towns in the north-east, where most people are Muslims, rather than carrying out hit-and-run attacks. | |
Who are Boko Haram? | |
Who are Boko Haram? | |
West African military chiefs are due to meet in Ghana's capital, Accra, to discuss the growing threat Boko Haram poses to regional stability. | |
The group has also made incursions into Cameroon. | |
On Monday, Cameroon's military said it had killed more than 100 militants after they fired shells into the small border town of Fotokol. | |
Two Tuareg fighters were clearly identified amongst the dead, Cameroon's Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma said at a press conference. | |
If true, it increases suspicion that Boko Haram is recruiting fighters from other countries, possibly Niger and Mali, as Nigeria does not have a Tuareg population, analysts say. | |
Last year, Mr Jonathan imposed a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, vowing to send more troops to crush the insurgency. | |
However, Boko Haram militants have stepped up their offensive and caused international outrage in April when they captured more than 200 girls from a boarding school in the town of Chibok, also in Borno state. | However, Boko Haram militants have stepped up their offensive and caused international outrage in April when they captured more than 200 girls from a boarding school in the town of Chibok, also in Borno state. |
Countries such as China, France, the UK and US have sent military assistance to help find the girls but they have not yet been rescued. | Countries such as China, France, the UK and US have sent military assistance to help find the girls but they have not yet been rescued. |