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Nigeria's Boko Haram puts Maiduguri under 'siege' Nigeria's Boko Haram puts Maiduguri under 'siege'
(about 1 hour later)
Nigeria's militant Islamists have "completely surrounded" Maiduguri, the main city in north-eastern Borno state, traditional elders have warned.Nigeria's militant Islamists have "completely surrounded" Maiduguri, the main city in north-eastern Borno state, traditional elders have warned.
The military needed to "fortify" the city, which had a population of more than two million, to prevent an assault "from all directions", they said.The military needed to "fortify" the city, which had a population of more than two million, to prevent an assault "from all directions", they said.
The Boko Haram militants had "annexed" areas that were about 50km (30 miles) from Maiduguri, they said.The Boko Haram militants had "annexed" areas that were about 50km (30 miles) from Maiduguri, they said.
Boko Haram declared a caliphate in areas it controls last month.Boko Haram declared a caliphate in areas it controls last month.
The government has not yet commented on the statement issued by the Borno Elders Forum (BEF).The government has not yet commented on the statement issued by the Borno Elders Forum (BEF).
'Annihilation''Annihilation'
It represents influential people in the state, including former government ministers and civil servants.It represents influential people in the state, including former government ministers and civil servants.
Boko Haram has also captured territory in neighbouring Adamawa state, forcing people to flee into hills, where they are eating leaves, residents told the BBC.
"We are convinced that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not shown sufficient political will to fight Boko Haram and rescue us from the clutches of the insurgents which may ultimately lead to the total annihilation of the inhabitants of Borno," BEF said."We are convinced that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not shown sufficient political will to fight Boko Haram and rescue us from the clutches of the insurgents which may ultimately lead to the total annihilation of the inhabitants of Borno," BEF said.
"The insurgents have rendered impassable almost all the roads leading to Maiduguri," it added."The insurgents have rendered impassable almost all the roads leading to Maiduguri," it added.
BEF said the military needed to "urgently fortify" the city. Air strikes
BEF said the military needed to "urgently fortify" the city, where Boko Haram was founded in 2002.
"The insurgents have surrounded Maiduguri and are nursing the ambition of attacking the city from all directions," BEF said."The insurgents have surrounded Maiduguri and are nursing the ambition of attacking the city from all directions," BEF said.
"There is credible local intelligence information to that effect. We must be pro-active. Maiduguri is heavily pregnant with people who have trooped into it hoping for safety," the elders added. The BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi in the capital, Abuja, says tens of thousands of people are taking refuge in Maiduguri after fleeing Boko Haram's advance.
Boko Haram's five-year insurgency is seen as the biggest threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity since the 1967-70 civil war, analysts say. It is unclear what is happening in territory under their control in Borno, as the mobile telephone network in many places is down, he says.
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. In Adamawa, the military has launched an air and ground assault to recapture the town of Michika, seized by Boko Haram on Sunday.
Who are Boko Haram?Who are Boko Haram?
Who are Boko Haram?Who are Boko Haram?
Residents said people in Michika were trapped between the bombs of the Nigerian air force and the militants who shoot anyone that dares move, at times slitting their throats.
One woman told the BBC many children were trapped in her house and had no idea where their parents were.
A man said seven people had died where he was sheltering and they could not be buried.
Michika has a population of about 700,000, and is the gateway to Adamawa's commercial hub, Mubi.
Boko Haram's five-year insurgency is seen as the biggest threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity since the 1967-70 civil war, 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.