Nigeria's military have repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on Borno state capital Maiduguri in the northeast of the country, accordingt o security sources.
The insurgents, who are trying to carve out an Islamic state, began attacking the city just after midnight.
Scores of militants and soldiers were killed, a military source and a civilian joint taskforce leader said. They did not give a civilian death toll.
The militants began the attack at the edge of the city in the Njimtilo area. The city is the capital of Borno state and would have been a major prize for the insurgents had they succeeded in capturing it.
Boko Haram has waged a five-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic state in the northeast of Africa's biggest economy. The militants control vast swathes of Borno state and some areas of neighbouring Adamawa and Yobe states. They recently took control of the town and army base at Baga by Lake Chad.
The army’s inability to squash the group has become a major headache for President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election in February. Jonathan visited the state capital on Saturday as part of his campaign and opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari was due to arrive Monday.
The insurgents last attempted to take Maiduguri from the same area in December 2013 and attacked a nearby army and airforce base.
Reuters