SHA'ABAN 10, 1430 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY, 31 2009.
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Cul-de-sac for sect leader: Smoked out of goat pen * Say police *Mosque stormed *Scores dead *Sharif urges calm
The leader of the Boko Haram sect which has been battling security forces in some states of the North has been captured, say police.
Muhammad Yusuf had fled the city of Maiduguri during the recent fighting between his followers and the Nigerian military on Wednesday.
Scores of people are believed to have died in the unrest.
The group, known as Boko Haram, were opposed to western education.
The group's leader, Yusuf, is thought to have escaped the assault on his stronghold along with several hundreds of his followers.
"Muhammad Yusuf has been arrested. He is now at the Giwa Barracks," said police commissioner Christopher Dega, referring to the military base in Maiduguri.
A BBC reporter in Maiduguri said Yusuf had been paraded before journalists with no apparent sign of injury.
He was reported to have been found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, reports said security forces had stormed a mosque where militants blamed for days of deadly violence had been hiding out.
Reports say scores of fighters were killed in the assault, which came after a third night of gun battles in the Northern city.
The assault by the security forces came after 1,000 extra soldiers were drafted into the city.
Army Commander, Major General Saleh Maina told the Associated Press that the deputy leader of the sect was killed in the bombardment.
An AP reporter who watched the storming of the mosque on Wednesday night had counted about 50 bodies inside the building and another 50 in the courtyard.
Army spokesman Chris Olukolade told the BBC's Network Africa programme that law and order had now been restored in Maiduguri.
"The enclave of the people causing the problem has been brought under better control and in a short while we believe that everyone will be able to go about his normal duties in that area," he said.
The latest deaths would mean about 300 people have been killed in four days of clashes since an estimated 1,000 militants began attacking police stations and government buildings in several cities in northern Nigeria.
In a related development, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday in Maiduguri appealed for calm as the military took over the operational base of the rampaging Muhammad Yusuf-led religious sect.
Sheriff, who made the appeal in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state, said: ``May I thank the entire citizens for their patience and understanding during the difficult situation we have found ourselves.
``May I equally appeal to the people to remain calm, vigilant and report any suspicious characters in their midst to the nearest security outposts.''
He said that the government was aware that some individuals were harbouring members of the dislodged sect, and warned that anybody caught doing this would be made to face the law.
``Let me sound a stern warning that anyone found harbouring members of the group will be dealt with.
``For the avoidance of doubt, all security agencies are put on red alert and will soon conduct a house-to-house check throughout the state,'' he said.
The governor condoled with the families of those who died in the crisis and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
``Indeed all of us are going through a moment of grief.
``Let me seize this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria's Armed Forces, for his quick intervention through the deployment of capable military personnel that have liquidated the miscreants,'' he said.
Sheriff also lauded the General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Jos, and members of the State Security Forum for their role in stopping the carnage.
``I also want to thank officers and men of the Nigeria Army and the police for standing by us during the trying period,” he stated.
