The Nigerian army says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram.
"Several terrorists died while many are captured," a tweet from the defences forces said.
Mopping-up operations are ongoing in and around the town, the military said.
News of the recapture comes a day before presidential elections, which were postponed by six weeks because of the offensive against Boko Haram.
Thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when the group began its insurgency to create an Islamic state.
'Major milestone'
Since a regional force began helping Nigeria take on the insurgents this year, many towns have been retaken.
The most recent military briefing said that only three districts, including Gwoza, remained under Boko Haram's control, down from 14.
After his fighters captured Gwoza in August 2014, the Boko Haram leader declared a caliphate in areas under his control.
"Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self styled Caliphate," a tweet from Nigerian armed forces said.
BBC
Friday, March 27, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Nigeria presidential candidates sign peace deal
Nigeria's two main presidential candidates have signed an agreement to prevent violence in tightly contested elections due on Saturday.
Ex-military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar brokered the deal in talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.
The two promised to respect the outcome of a credible poll and urged their supporters to refrain from violence.
Some 800 people were killed after the 2011 contest between the two rivals.
Mr Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari, with some analysts predicting a photo-finish.
Thursday is the final day of campaigning and the government has closed its land and sea borders to ensure a peaceful election.
'Embrace peace'
The meeting between the two candidates came after Nigeria's National Peace Committee, chaired by Gen Abubakar, warned on Monday that campaigning had been marred by hate speech that could trigger a crisis in the oil-rich state.
The BBC's Tomi Oladipo reports from the capital, Abuja, that both candidates shook hands and hugged.
They called on their supporters to embrace peace, regardless of who won.
But concern remains in Nigeria over whether the electoral commission is ready for the huge logistical exercise in sub-Saharan Africa's most populous state, our correspondent says.
The polls were due on 14 February, but were postponed to 28 March to give the commission more time to prepare for the polls and for regional forces to regain territory from militant Islamist group Boko Haram in the north-east.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram had killed some 1,000 people this year alone.
On Wednesday, army chief Kenneth Minimah said adequate security arrangements had been made for the polls.
Anyone who caused conflict would meet "organised violence" from the security forces, he added.
Meanwhile, Doha-based al-Jazeera reports that two of its journalists, Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa, have been detained by government forces in the city of Maiduguri, the former headquarters of Boko Haram.
It quoted the military as saying the journalists, both Nigerian nationals, were operating without "protection, accreditation or due clearance".
Al-Jazeera said both men had been accredited by the electoral commission to report from anywhere in Nigeria and it demanded their unconditional release.
BBC
Ex-military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar brokered the deal in talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.
The two promised to respect the outcome of a credible poll and urged their supporters to refrain from violence.
Some 800 people were killed after the 2011 contest between the two rivals.
Mr Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari, with some analysts predicting a photo-finish.
Thursday is the final day of campaigning and the government has closed its land and sea borders to ensure a peaceful election.
'Embrace peace'
The meeting between the two candidates came after Nigeria's National Peace Committee, chaired by Gen Abubakar, warned on Monday that campaigning had been marred by hate speech that could trigger a crisis in the oil-rich state.
The BBC's Tomi Oladipo reports from the capital, Abuja, that both candidates shook hands and hugged.
They called on their supporters to embrace peace, regardless of who won.
But concern remains in Nigeria over whether the electoral commission is ready for the huge logistical exercise in sub-Saharan Africa's most populous state, our correspondent says.
The polls were due on 14 February, but were postponed to 28 March to give the commission more time to prepare for the polls and for regional forces to regain territory from militant Islamist group Boko Haram in the north-east.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram had killed some 1,000 people this year alone.
On Wednesday, army chief Kenneth Minimah said adequate security arrangements had been made for the polls.
Anyone who caused conflict would meet "organised violence" from the security forces, he added.
Meanwhile, Doha-based al-Jazeera reports that two of its journalists, Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa, have been detained by government forces in the city of Maiduguri, the former headquarters of Boko Haram.
It quoted the military as saying the journalists, both Nigerian nationals, were operating without "protection, accreditation or due clearance".
Al-Jazeera said both men had been accredited by the electoral commission to report from anywhere in Nigeria and it demanded their unconditional release.
BBC
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Video - 40 percent of children in Nigeria's capital Abuja don't go to school
For many Nigerians, education should be the key issue of this election. A massive revamp of state schooling has been underway in recent years.
But parents, teachers and pupils are desperate for more.Even in cities like the capital Abuja, at least 40% of children don't go to primary school.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Nigeria 2015 Presidential election set to be closest contest
Nigeria is bracing for a turbulent few days ahead. The country is due to vote for a new president next weekend. It'll be Nigeria's fifth election since its return to democracy in 1999 - and it's tipped to be the closest contest so far.
Friday, March 20, 2015
President Goodluck Jonathan hopes all Boko Haram captured territories will be retaken in a month
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.
"They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.
But the president - who faces elections in a week - admitted the response to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow.
The army has claimed recent victories over Boko Haram in a conflict that has killed thousands since 2012.
Backed by neighbouring countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Nigeria's military says it has recaptured 11 of the 14 districts which had been under militant control.
On Thursday, however, Boko Haram attacked the town of Ngala, killing 11 people, after the army said it had retaken it.
President Jonathan's government has been heavily criticised for its failure to end the insurgency.
The government has made similar claims in the past about defeating or driving back Boko Haram within a specific period - but these have not been borne out by events.
The Nigerian insurgents this month pledged their allegiance to Islamic State militants, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq.
BBC
"They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.
But the president - who faces elections in a week - admitted the response to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow.
The army has claimed recent victories over Boko Haram in a conflict that has killed thousands since 2012.
Backed by neighbouring countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Nigeria's military says it has recaptured 11 of the 14 districts which had been under militant control.
On Thursday, however, Boko Haram attacked the town of Ngala, killing 11 people, after the army said it had retaken it.
President Jonathan's government has been heavily criticised for its failure to end the insurgency.
The government has made similar claims in the past about defeating or driving back Boko Haram within a specific period - but these have not been borne out by events.
The Nigerian insurgents this month pledged their allegiance to Islamic State militants, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq.
BBC
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