This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30972534
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Boko Haram crisis: Militants attack key city of Maiduguri | Boko Haram crisis: Militants attack key city of Maiduguri |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Fighters from the Islamist militant group Boko Haram have launched an attack on the key city of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria. | Fighters from the Islamist militant group Boko Haram have launched an attack on the key city of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria. |
Fierce fighting was reported on the outskirts. The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew is in place. | Fierce fighting was reported on the outskirts. The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew is in place. |
Maiduguri is home to tens of thousands of people who have fled Boko Haram attacks and was visited on Saturday by President Goodluck Jonathan. | Maiduguri is home to tens of thousands of people who have fled Boko Haram attacks and was visited on Saturday by President Goodluck Jonathan. |
Another Boko Haram attack was reported in Monguno, north of Maiduguri. | Another Boko Haram attack was reported in Monguno, north of Maiduguri. |
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched guerrilla operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state. | Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched guerrilla operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state. |
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria. | Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria. |
Human rights group Amnesty International has warned that hundreds of thousands of civilians are now "at grave risk''. | Human rights group Amnesty International has warned that hundreds of thousands of civilians are now "at grave risk''. |
Separately, US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Lagos for talks with President Jonathan and the main opposition's presidential candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. | Separately, US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Lagos for talks with President Jonathan and the main opposition's presidential candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. |
'Pray for us' | 'Pray for us' |
Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, say they woke to sustained loud explosions and gunshots. Roads and business have been closed by security forces. | Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, say they woke to sustained loud explosions and gunshots. Roads and business have been closed by security forces. |
One resident on the outskirts of the town told the BBC that "hundreds of thousands of people" were fleeing and that the military was keeping a low profile. | One resident on the outskirts of the town told the BBC that "hundreds of thousands of people" were fleeing and that the military was keeping a low profile. |
"Only prayers will save us now, not the military," she said, pointing out that the town's defences now depended on civilian volunteers who had formed to repel the militant threat. | "Only prayers will save us now, not the military," she said, pointing out that the town's defences now depended on civilian volunteers who had formed to repel the militant threat. |
Another resident said there was a total lockdown of the city, with all businesses closed and no civilian vehicles on the roads. | |
"Everyone is at home, but there are the civilian vigilantes, the police and the military who are patrolling on the streets," he said. | |
The attack appeared to have begun in the Njimtilo district on the edge of the city. | The attack appeared to have begun in the Njimtilo district on the edge of the city. |
Nigerian military spokesman Chris Olukolade tweeted that a curfew had been imposed in Maiduguri following an attack there and elsewhere in Borno state. | Nigerian military spokesman Chris Olukolade tweeted that a curfew had been imposed in Maiduguri following an attack there and elsewhere in Borno state. |
A resident of the Moronti area, Buba Kyari, told Agence France-Presse: "It is flying bullets everywhere. All we hear are sounds of guns and explosions. A rocket-propelled grenade hit and killed a person from my neighbourhood who was fleeing into the city." | A resident of the Moronti area, Buba Kyari, told Agence France-Presse: "It is flying bullets everywhere. All we hear are sounds of guns and explosions. A rocket-propelled grenade hit and killed a person from my neighbourhood who was fleeing into the city." |
The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says the military are carrying out co-ordinated air strikes and ground attacks against the insurgents. | The BBC's Chris Ewokor in Abuja says the military are carrying out co-ordinated air strikes and ground attacks against the insurgents. |
Militants also reportedly attacked Monguno, 140km (86 miles) north of Maiduguri. | Militants also reportedly attacked Monguno, 140km (86 miles) north of Maiduguri. |
Security sources told Reuters the army there was being overwhelmed, with houses set on fire. | Security sources told Reuters the army there was being overwhelmed, with houses set on fire. |
A journalist in Maiduguri told the BBC that fleeing soldiers from Monguno were now arriving at the barracks in in Maiduguri. | A journalist in Maiduguri told the BBC that fleeing soldiers from Monguno were now arriving at the barracks in in Maiduguri. |
Boko Haram at a glance | Boko Haram at a glance |
Soldiers without weapons | Soldiers without weapons |
Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram | Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram |
Maiduguri would be a major prize for Boko Haram, which last tried to take the city in December 2013. | Maiduguri would be a major prize for Boko Haram, which last tried to take the city in December 2013. |
President Jonathan visited Maiduguri on Saturday as part of his election campaign for polls in February. | President Jonathan visited Maiduguri on Saturday as part of his election campaign for polls in February. |
It was his second visit in two weeks. Before these trips his last visit had been in March 2013. | It was his second visit in two weeks. Before these trips his last visit had been in March 2013. |
On his visit on 16 January, he told some of the 5,000 refugees who had fled recent Boko Haram violence: "I want to assure you that you will soon go back to your houses." | On his visit on 16 January, he told some of the 5,000 refugees who had fled recent Boko Haram violence: "I want to assure you that you will soon go back to your houses." |
He pledged that "all the areas under the control of Boko Haram will soon be recaptured". | He pledged that "all the areas under the control of Boko Haram will soon be recaptured". |
His visit came after Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll. | His visit came after Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll. |
The pictures showed some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga in the first week of the year, the human rights group said. | The pictures showed some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga in the first week of the year, the human rights group said. |
Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 people were killed, putting the toll at nearer 150. | Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 people were killed, putting the toll at nearer 150. |
State department officials said Mr Kerry, in his meetings with the president and opposition leader, would urge them to appeal to supporters to refrain from violence in the lead-up to the election. Hundreds died after Mr Jonathan was elected in 2011. | State department officials said Mr Kerry, in his meetings with the president and opposition leader, would urge them to appeal to supporters to refrain from violence in the lead-up to the election. Hundreds died after Mr Jonathan was elected in 2011. |
Are you in Maiduguri? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Are you in Maiduguri? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
Have your say | Have your say |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |