Africa
24 November 2014
Last updated at 14:44 ET
Despite a state of emergency in the north-east, Boko Haram has been stepping up its attacks
Boko Haram fighters seized a nearby fishing village on Thursday, reportedly killing 48 people.
On Sunday, Nigeria's top Islamic leader accused soldiers of "terrorising", rather than defending, civilians.
"Soldiers take to their heels and abandon their bases, arms, ammunition and other military hardware on the approach of the insurgents," said the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar.
The sultan of Sokoto is Nigeria's most influential Muslim scholar
"Nigerian security forces only surface after the deadly attacks
and terrorise an already terrorised people by installing road blocks
and searching homes," he added in a statement issued on his behalf by
Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the main body representing Muslim clerics
in Nigeria.
'Inflicted horror' The militants entered Damasak carrying containers which they claimed were full of goods for sale when were, in fact, stuffed with AK-47 rifles, local government official Mohammed Damasak said, AFP news agency reports.
The gunmen "inflicted horror" and "many traders escaped with
bullet wounds while many are lying dead at the market", he is quoted as
saying.
Senator Maina Ma'aji Lawan told the BBC Hausa service that Boko Haram appeared to be on the verge of capturing Damasak, forcing people to flee to outlying villages and across the border into Niger.
Who are Boko Haram?
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
Mr Lawan is the senator for the northern area of Borno - one of
three states where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of
emergency last year, vowing to crush the insurgency.
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks since then, declaring a caliphate (Islamic state) in areas it controls.
In Thursday's assault, traders were on their way to Chad to buy fish when militants blocked their path near the village of Doron Baga, some 180km (112 miles) north of Maiduguri.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has declared an Islamic state in the north-east
A fish traders' group said some of the 48 victims had their
throats slit whilst others were tied up and drowned in Lake Chad, in one
of the most brutal attacks blamed on Boko Haram.
BBC Nigeria analyst Aliyu Tanko says the militants appear to be advancing northwards after taking control of much of southern Borno in recent months.
It seems the group wants to isolate the state capital, Maiduguri, to make it easier to launch an attack on it, he says.
The sultan of Sokoto's intervention shows a growing lack of confidence in the security forces, although the government says it is doing its best to defeat Boko Haram, he adds.
Last week, another influential Muslim leader, Muhammad Sanusi, the emir of Kano, said residents should "acquire what they need" to protect themselves.
Boko Haram has killed Christians and Muslims opposed to its version of Islam since launching its insurgency in 2009.
by Rashida Adjani and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Website
Despite a state of emergency in the north-east, Boko Haram has been stepping up its attacks
Hundreds
of residents and soldiers are fleeing a northern Nigerian town attacked
by militant Islamists disguised as traders, officials say.
Shootings and explosions had rocked the trading town of Damasak, near Niger's border, a senator told the BBC. Boko Haram fighters seized a nearby fishing village on Thursday, reportedly killing 48 people.
On Sunday, Nigeria's top Islamic leader accused soldiers of "terrorising", rather than defending, civilians.
"Soldiers take to their heels and abandon their bases, arms, ammunition and other military hardware on the approach of the insurgents," said the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar.
The sultan of Sokoto is Nigeria's most influential Muslim scholar
'Inflicted horror' The militants entered Damasak carrying containers which they claimed were full of goods for sale when were, in fact, stuffed with AK-47 rifles, local government official Mohammed Damasak said, AFP news agency reports.
Senator Maina Ma'aji Lawan told the BBC Hausa service that Boko Haram appeared to be on the verge of capturing Damasak, forcing people to flee to outlying villages and across the border into Niger.
- Founded in 2002
- Initially focused on opposing Western 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 - also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
- Some three million people affected
- Declared terrorist group by US in 2013
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks since then, declaring a caliphate (Islamic state) in areas it controls.
In Thursday's assault, traders were on their way to Chad to buy fish when militants blocked their path near the village of Doron Baga, some 180km (112 miles) north of Maiduguri.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has declared an Islamic state in the north-east
BBC Nigeria analyst Aliyu Tanko says the militants appear to be advancing northwards after taking control of much of southern Borno in recent months.
It seems the group wants to isolate the state capital, Maiduguri, to make it easier to launch an attack on it, he says.
The sultan of Sokoto's intervention shows a growing lack of confidence in the security forces, although the government says it is doing its best to defeat Boko Haram, he adds.
Last week, another influential Muslim leader, Muhammad Sanusi, the emir of Kano, said residents should "acquire what they need" to protect themselves.
Boko Haram has killed Christians and Muslims opposed to its version of Islam since launching its insurgency in 2009.
Boko Haram
Analysis
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After ceasefire fiasco, what happens next?
What now?
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Escape from Boko Haram
-
Battle to free the girls
-
'I saw my parents killed'
-
Army pride wounded
-
Who are Boko Haram?
-
Girl bombers
-
City under siege
-
Deadliest phase
-
Failed fight back
-
In 60 secs: Boko Haram
-
Will abductions backfire?
-
Shadowy leader
-
From preachers to slave raiders
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