#News: Nigeria repels new attack on key city

[BBC]

 Boko Haram at a glance

 

• Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
• Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
• Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - has also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
• Has abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls
• Controls several north-eastern towns
• Has launched attacks on Cameroon

Why is Boko Haram so strong?

City under siege

Soldiers without weapons

Who are Boko Haram?

 The army in Monguno, 140km (85 miles) north of Maiduguri was reported to have been overwhelmed, with houses set on fire on Sunday.

A journalist in Maiduguri told the BBC that fleeing soldiers from Monguno had arrived at the barracks in Maiduguri.

Thousands of people have been killed in the insurgency, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria.

Mr Kerry (centre) held talks with President Jonathan (right) during a rare visit to Nigeria  

The military was out in force in Maiduguri during Mr Jonathan's visit on Saturday    Mr Kerry urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the main opposition's presidential candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, not to condone violence during what is expected to be a tense election campaign,

"We are prepared to do more [to counter the Boko Haram threat] but our ability to do more will depend to some degree on the full measure of credibility, accountability, transparency and peacefulness of this election," Mr Kerry said, after talks with Mr Jonathan.

The US does not currently sell weapons to Nigeria's military because of its human rights record.

Our correspondent says that with the insurgents gaining ground, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, is increasingly at risk.

The city would be a major prize for Boko Haram, which last tried to take the city in December 2013.

President Jonathan visited the city on Saturday as part of his election campaign for the 14 February election.

It was his second visit in two weeks.

Earlier this month, he told some of the 5,000 refugees who had fled recent Boko Haram violence that they would soon be able to go back to their houses and that territory lost to the militants would soon be recaptured.

 Are you in Maiduguri? Have you been affected by recent events? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.

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Source: BBC