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Boko Haram militants attack city of Maiduguri in northern Nigeria | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Boko Haram militants have launched a fierce attack on Nigeria's major northeastern city of Maiduguri, according to military and government sources. | |
The attack was launched in the early hours of Sunday morning and shelling and gunfire was reported to be heard later in the day. | |
Military helicopters are circling the city and air strikes are being carried out. Authorities have imposed a curfew, all roads have been closed and commercial premises have been shut. | |
It is believed that militants began the attack at the edge of the city in the Njimtilo area. As the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri would be a major asset for Boko Haram should it fall. | |
The city is home to many thousands of people who have fled attacks by the militants from smaller towns and cities in the northeast of Nigeria. | |
Rachel Adamu, who lives in the Njimtilo district, said "please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now." | |
Boko Haram has waged a five-year insurgency, killing thousands of civilians in the process, in its attempt to create an Islamic state in the north of the country. | |
The group already controls huge parts of Borno state and some areas of neighbouring Adamawa and Yobe states. | |
In recent weeks they have taken control of Baga and the nearby army base, in an attack that was described as one of Boko Haram's deadliest to date. | |
President Goodluck Jonathan visited Maiduguri on Saturday as part of his campaign for re-election in February. The inability of the government to deal with the insurgents is causing major problems for the president and his government. | |
On Monday the opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari, is scheduled to visit the state capital. | |
Boko Haram last attempted to capture Maiduguri and a nearby army and airforce base in December 2013, but were pushed back by government forces. | |
Additional reporting by Reuters |