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| Boko Haram 'leader Abubakar Shekau' claims Baga raid | Boko Haram 'leader Abubakar Shekau' claims Baga raid |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man purporting to be the leader of the Boko Haram Islamist group has said in a video that his fighters carried out a deadly attacks on the Nigerian town of Baga earlier this month. | A man purporting to be the leader of the Boko Haram Islamist group has said in a video that his fighters carried out a deadly attacks on the Nigerian town of Baga earlier this month. |
| The man said to be Abubakar Shekau said people were killed "as our Lord instructed us", threatening more raids. | The man said to be Abubakar Shekau said people were killed "as our Lord instructed us", threatening more raids. |
| He taunted nearby countries' leaders. | He taunted nearby countries' leaders. |
| Some reports said that as many as 2,000 people died in the Baga raid but Nigeria's government has disputed this, putting the toll at 150. | |
| "We killed the people of Baga," the man claiming to be Shekau said in the 35-minute video, quoted by AFP news agency. | "We killed the people of Baga," the man claiming to be Shekau said in the 35-minute video, quoted by AFP news agency. |
| He also issued a challenge to Nigerian and regional forces to attack his group. | He also issued a challenge to Nigerian and regional forces to attack his group. |
| The video displayed an array of weapons believed to have been taken from a military base in neighbouring Doron Baga. | The video displayed an array of weapons believed to have been taken from a military base in neighbouring Doron Baga. |
| Boko Haram has seized control of towns and villages in north-east Nigeria and has begun threatening neighbouring countries. | Boko Haram has seized control of towns and villages in north-east Nigeria and has begun threatening neighbouring countries. |
| The video has not been verified but correspondents say it was in typical Boko Haram style, with the group's leader in combat fatigues and surrounded by masked fighters. | The video has not been verified but correspondents say it was in typical Boko Haram style, with the group's leader in combat fatigues and surrounded by masked fighters. |
| Satellite images released by Amnesty International showed widespread destruction in Baga and Doron Baga in the far north-east of Nigeria, with some 3,700 buildings damaged or destroyed. | Satellite images released by Amnesty International showed widespread destruction in Baga and Doron Baga in the far north-east of Nigeria, with some 3,700 buildings damaged or destroyed. |
| Amnesty cited witnesses saying that militants had killed indiscriminately and described the damage was "catastrophic". | Amnesty cited witnesses saying that militants had killed indiscriminately and described the damage was "catastrophic". |
| The rights group said the attack was the largest and deadliest by Boko Haram that it had analysed. | The rights group said the attack was the largest and deadliest by Boko Haram that it had analysed. |
| A businessman from Baga told the BBC people were being killed like animals. He said he fled the town along with some 5,000 others. | A businessman from Baga told the BBC people were being killed like animals. He said he fled the town along with some 5,000 others. |
| Hundreds of women and children were reported to have been taken captive. | Hundreds of women and children were reported to have been taken captive. |
| The upsurge in violence has alarmed Nigeria's neighbours, particularly in Cameroon. | The upsurge in violence has alarmed Nigeria's neighbours, particularly in Cameroon. |
| In the latest reports of fighting, "heavy clashes" were said to have taken place in Bonderi in the far north of Cameroon, near the Nigerian border on Tuesday night. | In the latest reports of fighting, "heavy clashes" were said to have taken place in Bonderi in the far north of Cameroon, near the Nigerian border on Tuesday night. |
| Suspected Boko Haram militants were believed to have kidnapped dozens of people in a cross-border raid near Mokolo city in Cameroon's Far North region last Sunday. Some were later freed as Cameroon's forces pursued the attackers who were fleeing back to Nigeria. | Suspected Boko Haram militants were believed to have kidnapped dozens of people in a cross-border raid near Mokolo city in Cameroon's Far North region last Sunday. Some were later freed as Cameroon's forces pursued the attackers who were fleeing back to Nigeria. |
| Thousands of Cameroonian troops have been deployed to the north to try to stem the raids and President Idriss Deby of Chad has also sent a contingent of troops. | Thousands of Cameroonian troops have been deployed to the north to try to stem the raids and President Idriss Deby of Chad has also sent a contingent of troops. |
| Meanwhile, officials from Nigeria and its neighbours met in Niger's capital Niamey on Tuesday to discuss a regional response to Boko Haram. | Meanwhile, officials from Nigeria and its neighbours met in Niger's capital Niamey on Tuesday to discuss a regional response to Boko Haram. |
| One suggestion is a new force, possibly under the auspices of the African Union, to tackle the insurgents. | One suggestion is a new force, possibly under the auspices of the African Union, to tackle the insurgents. |
| Nigeria is due to hold elections next month but there are growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country. | Nigeria is due to hold elections next month but there are growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country. |
| Boko Haram at a glance | Boko Haram at a glance |
| Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
| Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram | Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram |