MILITARY ATTACK ISLAMIC COMPOUND

On 29 July 2009 the Nigerian military attacked the compound of the Islamist Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri, Borno state. The attack, which came soon after the military deployed an additional 1,000 troops to the city, forced approximately 300 militants to flee Maiduguri along with their leader, Mohammed Yusuf. At least 100 militants were killed in the fighting, including Boko Haram's deputy leader. Troops began conducting a house-to-house search in the region on 30 July in order to locate Yusuf, but so far they have been unsuccessful. Reports indicate that Yusuf may have fled to a village located approximately 30 mi/50 km northeast of Maiduguri. Although authorities have stated that the fighting has ended in Maiduguri, the city is reportedly deserted, and businesses remain closed. The dusk-to-dawn curfew is still in effect, but enforcement has been relaxed. Official figures show that more than 300 people have been killed in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Yobe states since the violence initially broke out in Bauchi on 26 July.