‘Hundreds’ dead as troops repel Islamic extremists

Nigerian troops have repelled Islamic extremists who attacked from four fronts on Maiduguri, the biggest city in north-east Nigeria, with several civilians killed by aerial bombs, and grenades and mortar shells on the ground.

Soldiers said hundreds of insurgents died.

Terrified residents yesterday fled from homes shaking from five hours of heavy artillery fire and streamed in from the outskirts of the besieged city of 2m, already crowded with another 200,000 refugees from the fighting.