Nigeria's 'Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri and Damaturu'

Boko Haram began its insurgency to create an Islamic state five years ago

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Boko Haram

• What now?
• Escape from Boko Haram
• Battle to free the girls
• 'I saw my parents killed'

Suspected Boko Haram militants have struck in two state capitals in north-east Nigeria, with suicide attacks by female bombers in Maiduguri and a raid on a police base in Damaturu.

At least five people were killed in the twin blasts at a crowded market in Maiduguri, police said.
In Damaturu, explosions and gunfire were heard as militants rampaged through the city, residents said.
Boko Haram has vowed to create an Islamic state in areas it controls.
The blasts at Monday market in Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno, were caused by "two girls", witness Mallam Muhammadu told Associated Press (AP) news agency.
At least 32 people were wounded in the explosions, a source at the local hospital told the BBC Hausa service.
Confirming the attacks, police spokesman Gideon Jibrin told the AFP news agency that five people had been killed, and not 10 as initially thought.
Suicide attacks by two female bombers at the same market on 25 November killed 78 people.

Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted Maiduguri, its former headquarters

Twin blasts in the city on 25 November caused many casualties, with hospital staff overstretched

Boko Haram has taken control of a series of towns and villages in north-east Nigeria in recent months

Maiduguri was the headquarters of Boko Haram, until it was driven out of the city earlier this year by the security forces and vigilante groups.
'Chaos all over town'

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We have left our homes. We are now in the bush”

Umar Sada Damaturu resident

The assault on Damaturu, the capital of neighbouring Yobe state, began shortly after 05:00 local time (04:00 GMT), forcing most residents to stay indoors or to flee the city.

The militants set fire to a riot police base, and attacked a primary school and the city's university.
A university student told BBC Focus on Africa he had been woken by the sound of explosions and had seen a large number of militants wearing military uniforms moving into the city.

He said he and some other residents had since fled to the surrounding countryside.
Another resident told the BBC that schools and businesses were shut, and most people were staying at home.
Boko Haram militants had stormed an empty primary school, and were firing shots from there, he said.
"We have left our homes. We are now in the bush. We don't know what's going to happen," resident Umar Sada told AFP.
A government official, who asked not to be identified, said: "It's chaos all over the town. All I can hear is explosions and gunfire from my house.
"I couldn't go out for morning prayers because this started before dawn and I'm afraid to leave in case I get caught up in it."
Boko Haram has taken control of a series of towns and villages in north-east Nigeria in recent months.