Africa
15 January 2015
Last updated at 20:09 ET
Nigeria's president has faced criticism for not visiting the trouble-hit north-eastern regions
It was his first visit to the north-east since March 2013.
Critics have accused the president of ignoring the victims of Boko Haram's violence in the region.
He cancelled a trip to the region last year.
'Wiped off' towns During Thursday's visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the president told more than 900 displaced people that he was "working very hard" to ensure that they could return.
He pledged that "all the areas under the control of Boko Haram will soon be recaptured".
President Jonathan's visit came as the UK-based human rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll.
The pictures show some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga last week, the human-rights group said.
Amnesty's before and after satellite images were taken on 2 January and 7 January. Healthy vegetation is shown in red on the graphics.
Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 were killed, putting the toll at just 150.
The BBC's Will Ross says that while the images show the destructive nature of Boko Haram, they do not help establish just how many people were killed.
Amnesty cited witnesses saying that militants had killed indiscriminately.
"These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days," Daniel Eyre, an Amnesty researcher, said in a statement.
"It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out ruins," he said.
There has been a surge in violence linked to Boko Haram. In the past week there have also been several attacks, including by suspected child suicide bombers.
Nigeria is to hold elections next month, amid growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country.
Boko Haram's capture of Baga
03 January: Social media reports of Baga attack first emerge
04 January: Boko Haram claims to have captured Baga
08 January: Reports emerge of bodies strewn on the streets in Baga, with some saying 2,000 people killed
12 January: The government says that the number of people who lost their lives in Baga was no more than 150, including militants
15 January: Satellite images released by Amnesty International suggest the number of dead is far higher than officially admitted
Officials said militants had attacked Baga on 7 January, four
days after overrunning a multinational military base in the town that
had been abandoned by Nigerian troops.
Amnesty's Adotei Akwei told the BBC that although it was still difficult to access the area where the attack took place, the Nigerian government was "grossly understating" the death toll.
"They killed so many people," one man told the group. "I saw maybe around 100 killed at that time in Baga. I ran to the bush. As we were running, they were shooting and killing."
Boko Haram at a glance
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram
One witness was quoted as saying that victims included small children and a woman in labour.
Afterwards, militants drove into the surrounding country, rounding up women, children and the elderly, unnamed witnesses told the group.
"Boko Haram took around 300 women and kept us in a school in Baga," one woman, who Amnesty said had been held for four days, was quoted as saying.
"They released the older women, mothers and most of the children after four days but are still keeping the younger women."
by Rashida Adjani and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, N'Djamena, Chad
Nigeria's president has faced criticism for not visiting the trouble-hit north-eastern regions
President
Goodluck Jonathan has made a surprise visit to north-east Nigeria, in
the aftermath of mass killings by Boko Haram Islamist militants.
Mr Jonathan told some of the 5,000 refugees who fled
last-week's violence: "I want to assure you that you will soon go back
to your houses."It was his first visit to the north-east since March 2013.
Critics have accused the president of ignoring the victims of Boko Haram's violence in the region.
He cancelled a trip to the region last year.
'Wiped off' towns During Thursday's visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the president told more than 900 displaced people that he was "working very hard" to ensure that they could return.
James Robbins reports: ''Survivors speak of killing on a huge scale''
President Jonathan's visit came as the UK-based human rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll.
The pictures show some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga last week, the human-rights group said.
Amnesty's before and after satellite images were taken on 2 January and 7 January. Healthy vegetation is shown in red on the graphics.
Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 were killed, putting the toll at just 150.
The BBC's Will Ross says that while the images show the destructive nature of Boko Haram, they do not help establish just how many people were killed.
"These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days," Daniel Eyre, an Amnesty researcher, said in a statement.
"It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out ruins," he said.
There has been a surge in violence linked to Boko Haram. In the past week there have also been several attacks, including by suspected child suicide bombers.
Nigeria is to hold elections next month, amid growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country.
04 January: Boko Haram claims to have captured Baga
08 January: Reports emerge of bodies strewn on the streets in Baga, with some saying 2,000 people killed
12 January: The government says that the number of people who lost their lives in Baga was no more than 150, including militants
15 January: Satellite images released by Amnesty International suggest the number of dead is far higher than officially admitted
Amnesty's Adotei Akwei told the BBC that although it was still difficult to access the area where the attack took place, the Nigerian government was "grossly understating" the death toll.
"They killed so many people," one man told the group. "I saw maybe around 100 killed at that time in Baga. I ran to the bush. As we were running, they were shooting and killing."
- 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
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram
Afterwards, militants drove into the surrounding country, rounding up women, children and the elderly, unnamed witnesses told the group.
"Boko Haram took around 300 women and kept us in a school in Baga," one woman, who Amnesty said had been held for four days, was quoted as saying.
"They released the older women, mothers and most of the children after four days but are still keeping the younger women."
Boko Haram
Analysis
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Why it is hard to report about massacres in Nigeria
Finding the truth
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New start in US for escapees
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Escape from Boko Haram
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Who are Boko Haram?
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Battle to free the girls
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'I saw my parents killed'
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City under siege
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Girl bombers
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Deadliest phase
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Failed fight back
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In 60 secs: Boko Haram
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Shadowy leader
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From preachers to slave raiders
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