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| Nigeria's Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state | Nigeria's Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nigeria's army and Boko Haram militants have engaged in a fierce gun battle in the north-eastern Borno state, reportedly leaving scores dead on either side. | Nigeria's army and Boko Haram militants have engaged in a fierce gun battle in the north-eastern Borno state, reportedly leaving scores dead on either side. |
| The army says it killed 150 militants, while 16 soldiers died and nine more are missing. | The army says it killed 150 militants, while 16 soldiers died and nine more are missing. |
| However, local media report that around 100 soldiers may have died. | However, local media report that around 100 soldiers may have died. |
| BBC Nigeria analyst Bashir Abdullahi says it is clear that the army still faces a tough battle with Boko Haram. | BBC Nigeria analyst Bashir Abdullahi says it is clear that the army still faces a tough battle with Boko Haram. |
| He notes that the military often plays down its own casualty figures. | He notes that the military often plays down its own casualty figures. |
| Army spokesman Ibrahim Attahiru said a heavily guarded militant base in the Kasiya forest north of the state capital Maiduguri was raided on 12 September - this is the first time the details have been made public. | |
| "It was a highly fortified insurgent camp with heavy weapons," he told the AFP news agency. | "It was a highly fortified insurgent camp with heavy weapons," he told the AFP news agency. |
| Several thousand people have been killed since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in 2009, seeking to create an Islamic state in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria. | Several thousand people have been killed since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in 2009, seeking to create an Islamic state in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria. |
| A state of emergency was declared in Borno and two neighbouring states in May, with thousands of extra troops sent to the area. | A state of emergency was declared in Borno and two neighbouring states in May, with thousands of extra troops sent to the area. |
| Local vigilante groups have also been formed to help counter the militants but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks. | Local vigilante groups have also been formed to help counter the militants but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks. |
| Last month, the army said it had killed Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau but this has not been confirmed and the militants' attacks have continued. | Last month, the army said it had killed Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau but this has not been confirmed and the militants' attacks have continued. |
| Brig Attahiru also said that President Jonathan had ordered the deployment of extra troops to the central state of Nasarawa, east of the capital Abuja, following ethnic clashes which have left a reported 50 people dead in recent days. |