Maiduguri - In fierce fighting that killed more than 200
combatants on Sunday, Nigerian troops clashed with Islamic extremists who
attacked Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeastern Nigeria, from three
fronts.
At the same time the insurgents continued scorched-earth
attacks on villages some 200km to the south in Adamawa state, slitting throats
of residents, looting and burning homes and abducting dozens of trapped women
and children, according to Vandu Kainu and other escaping survivors.
Adamawa state legislator Adamu Kamale appealed for troops to
protect civilians in Michika, where six villages are under attack. "The
attacks have continued since Friday with no presence of security
operatives," he complained.
John Kerry visit
The multiple attacks come as US Secretary of State John
Kerry visited Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital more than 1 500km southwest
of Maiduguri, to encourage peaceful elections on 14 February in Africa's most
populous country.
"This will be the largest democratic election on the
continent," Kerry said. "Given the stakes, it's absolutely critical
that these elections be conducted peacefully - that they are credible,
transparent and accountable."
Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan and his chief
rival candidate, former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari. Kerry told
reporters afterward that he won pledges from both to refrain from violence.
He also issued a warning: Anyone responsible for inciting
post-election mayhem will be barred entry to the United States, where millions
of Nigerians live.
Fight against Boko Haram
Kerry promised more US support in the fight against Boko
Haram if the elections take place peacefully and democratically.
More than 800 people were killed in northern protests after
Buhari, a Muslim northerner, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from
the south.
Boko Haram has denounced democracy and wants to make an
Islamic state of Nigeria, whose population of about 170 million is divided
almost equally between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.
In Maiduguri, troops blocked roads into the city, which also
prevented civilians from escaping.
Defence ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Chris
Olukolade said on Sunday evening that troops successfully repelled attacks on
Maiduguri and Konduga, 40km to the southeast.
But he said they were mounting air raids in Monduno, a town
140km northeast of Maiduguri, which Boko Haram seized on Sunday morning.
More than 200 combatants died on Sunday, mainly insurgents,
according to soldiers and civilian self-defence fighters who counted bodies.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to
reporters.
President Jonathan made a surprise visit to Maiduguri 10
days ago and pledged to crush the insurgents. But his repeated promises are
ringing hollow as Boko Haram since August has seized and kept control of large
swaths of the northeast, including key border crossings into Cameroon, Chad and
Niger.
Multinational force
With encouragement from the United Nations, Nigeria and its
neighbours are setting up a multinational force to fight the extremists who
recently have increased cross-border raids into Cameroon.
But there is distrust of Nigeria's military, which many
believe is infiltrated by Boko Haram at the highest levels.
The Maiduguri attack is not unexpected. Boko Haram on 3 January
seized a key military base and Baga town on the border with Cameroon, killing
hundreds of civilians and leaving the main road open to Maiduguri. The military
said they were counter-attacking a week ago. But escaping civilians said there
was no fighting and the insurgents retain their control.
Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been attacked
many times in the 5-year Islamic insurgency that killed at least 10 000 people
last year.
