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'New Boko Haram attack' on Nigerian city of Maiduguri | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Boko Haram Islamist militants have launched a fresh assault on the strategically important Nigerian city of Maiduguri, eyewitnesses say. | |
Gunfire was reported on the streets of the northern city after an attack that began in the early hours of Sunday. | |
It comes a week after Boko Haram's last attempt to take the city was repelled by the Nigerian army. | |
Boko Haram began guerrilla operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state. | |
Thousands of people have been killed throughout the insurgency, mostly in the north-east. | |
Residents in Maiduguri told the AFP news agency that the attack began at 03:00 (02:00 GMT) and that heavy fighting is taking place on the southern edge of the city between insurgents and troops supported by vigilantes. | |
"The whole city is in fear," resident Adam Krenuwa was quoted as saying. "People are afraid of what will happen if Boko Haram defeats the security forces." | |
The Nigerian Premium Times newspaper reported that heavy artillery could be heard in Maiduguri as the militants attacked the city from four directions. | |
Boko Haram's last attempt to take over Maiduguri a week ago was stopped by the military. | |
But the militants did succeed in capturing the town of Monguno - 125km (80 miles) outside the city and took over a military base. | |
With the insurgents gaining more and more territory Maiduguri - home to tens of thousands of people who have fled their homes because of the conflict - has been increasingly vulnerable. | |
Experts say that the rebels are stepping up their attacks ahead of elections in Nigeria on 14 February. |