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Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria's Baga town hit by new assault Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria's Baga town hit by new assault
(about 5 hours later)
Nigeria's militant Islamists have carried out a second attack on the key north-eastern town of Baga, an official has told the BBC. Bodies lay strewn on the streets of a key north-eastern Nigerian town following an assault by militant Islamists, officials have told the BBC.
Boko Haram fighters burnt down almost the entire town on Wednesday, after over-running a military base on Saturday, Musa Alhaji Bukar said. The Boko Haram group attacked Baga town on Wednesday, after over-running a military base there on Saturday, they said.
Bodies lay strewn on Baga's streets, amid fears that some 2,000 people had been killed in the raids, he added. Almost the entire town had been torched and the militants were now raiding nearby areas, they added.
Boko Haram launched a military campaign in 2009 to create an Islamic state.Boko Haram launched a military campaign in 2009 to create an Islamic state.
It has taken control of many towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria in the last year.It has taken control of many towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria in the last year.
The conflict has displaced at least 1.5 million people, while more than 2,000 were killed last year.The conflict has displaced at least 1.5 million people, while more than 2,000 were killed last year.
Abandoned 'Rotting corpses'
On Monday, lawmaker Maina Maaji Lawan said Boko Haram controlled 70% of Borno state, which is worst-affected by the insurgency. Nigerian lawmaker Maina Maaji Lawan said Boko Haram controlled 70% of Borno state, which is worst-affected by the insurgency.
Mr Bukar, a senior government official in the area, said that fleeing residents told him that the town, which had a population of about 10,000, was now "virtually non-existent". Musa Alhaji Bukar, a senior government official in the area, said that fleeing residents told him that Baga, which had a population of about 10,000, was now "virtually non-existent".
"It has been burnt down," he said. "It has been burnt down," he told the BBC Hausa service.
Those who fled reported that they had been unable to bury the dead, and corpses littered the town's streets, he said.Those who fled reported that they had been unable to bury the dead, and corpses littered the town's streets, he said.
Boko Haram was effectively in control of Baga and 16 neighbouring towns, Mr Bukar said. Boko Haram was now in control of Baga and 16 neighbouring towns after the military retreated, Mr Bukar said.
Government troops abandoned the military base in Baga on Saturday, when the militants launched an assault. While he raised fears that some 2,000 had been killed in the raids, other reports put the number in the hundreds.
It hosts the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), made up of troops from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, although the BBC understands there were only Nigerian soldiers there at the time of the attack. Mr Lawan, the senator for northern Borno, called on government troops to stop "dilly-dallying" and to fight back to protect residents.
Set up in 1998 to fight trans-border crime in the Lake Chad region, the force more recently took on Boko Haram. "The indiscriminate killings went on and on and on," he told BBC Focus on Africa.
Thousands have fled Baga - many to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, and others to Chad. Boko Haram's offensive continued on Thursday, with its fighters setting up checkpoints and killing people who were hiding in the bush, the senator said.
A large number reportedly drown as they crossed Lake Chad following Saturday's raid. Fleeing residents spoke of the stench of rotting corpses on the streets and surrounding bushes, he said.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno and two neighbouring states in 2013, vowing to defeat the militants. Boko Haram at a glance
However, Boko Haram has stepped up attacks since then, and there are fears that many people in the area will not be able to vote in next month's general elections because of the conflict. Who are Boko Haram?
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram
Some 10,0000 people had fled to Chad since Saturday to escape the violence, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis, Mr Lawan said.
A large number reportedly drowned as they crossed Lake Chad.
Others are fleeing to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, in buses provided by the government, the senator said.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says the crisis in north-eastern Nigeria is clearly deepening.
While President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election next month, has condemned the attack on a French satirical magazine in Paris as dastardly, he has not commented on the violence at home, our reporter says.
Government troops abandoned the military base in Baga on Saturday.
It hosts the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), made up of troops from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, although only Nigerian soldiers were there at the time of the attack.
Set up in 1998 to fight trans-border crime in the Lake Chad region, the force more recently promised to take on Boko Haram.
Mr Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno and two neighbouring states in 2013, vowing to defeat the militants.
However, Boko Haram has stepped up attacks since then and there are fears that many people in the north-east will not be able to vote in the general election because of the conflict.