Suspected Boko Haram militants attack major Nigeria northern city

Suspected Boko Haram militants began attacking Nigeria’s major northeastern city of Maiduguri just after midnight on Sunday, military, government and local sources said. A witness said shelling could be heard and that military helicopters were circling the city by late morning. All roads have been closed, a security source said, and commercial activity‎ has been shut down. The city is the capital of Borno state and would be a major prize for the insurgents who are trying to carve out an Islamic state.

Please pray for us, we are in danger, under serious attack now.

A resident, Rachel Adamu, who lives around Njimtilo

Boko Haram has waged a five-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic state in the northeast of Africa’s biggest economy. The militants control vast swathes of Borno state and some areas of neighbouring Adamawa and Yobe states. They recently took control of the town and army base at Baga by Lake Chad. President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election in February, visited the state capital on Saturday as part of his campaign and opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari was due to arrive Monday.

Boko Haram Africa