breaking news: Boko Haram attack on Nigeria's Maiduguri city repelled
Maiduguri would be a major prize for Boko Haram
Nigeria's
military has repelled a new attack by militant Islamist group Boko
Haram on the strategically important north-eastern city of Maiduguri, an
army source has told the BBC.
Dozens of militants and soldiers were reportedly killed during a major assault on the city on Sunday.The city is quiet on Monday, with some businesses open, a BBC reporter says.
Earlier on Sunday, Boko Haram captured the north-eastern town of Monguno - the latest to be seized by the group.
It launched an insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009 to create an Islamic state.
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Nigeria on Sunday to call for peaceful elections next month.
Thousands of people from areas seized by Boko Haram are taking refuge in Maiduguri
'Houses ablaze' BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says that Mr Kerry is in Nigeria to show solidarity in the fight against Boko Haram.
Government troops beat back Boko Haram fighters after they launched an assault on Maiduguri on Sunday night - the second in less than 24 hours, an army source said.
Both attacks were in the Jimtilo district.
Loud explosions were heard in the city, a resident told the BBC Hausa service.
A 24-hour curfew was imposed on Sunday but this has since been relaxed.
Our correspondent says the militants have captured so much territory surrounding Maiduguri that there is only one road in and out which is considered safe.
He says there is still a great danger that Boko Haram will return to try again.
- 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
City under siege
Soldiers without weapons
Who are Boko Haram?
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
"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.
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