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| 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, reports say. | Fighters from the Islamist militant group Boko Haram have launched an attack on the key city of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria, reports say. |
| Fierce fighting is said to be taking place on the outskirts of the city as militants attempt to enter it. | Fierce fighting is said to be taking place on the outskirts of the city as militants attempt to enter it. |
| The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew has been imposed. | The military is carrying out air strikes, and a curfew has been imposed. |
| 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. |
| Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state. | Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language, launched military 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. |
| 'Pray for us' | 'Pray for us' |
| Residents of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, say they woke to sustained loud explosions and gunshots. | 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. | Roads and business have been closed by security forces. |
| 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. |
| One resident there, Rachel Adamu, told Reuters: "Please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now." | One resident there, Rachel Adamu, told Reuters: "Please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 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 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 UK-based human rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll. | His visit came after UK-based human rights group 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 were killed, putting the toll at just 150. | Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 were killed, putting the toll at just 150. |