Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri, the biggest city in the northeast of Nigeria

  Nigerian troops repelled Boko Haram’s extremists who attacked from four fronts on Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria, with several civilians killed by aerial bombs and grenades and mortar shells on the ground.

 Nigerian troops repelled Boko Haram’s extremists who attacked from four fronts on Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria, with several civilians killed by aerial bombs and grenades and mortar shells on the ground.

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

The attack comes as Nigerians prepare for a closely contested Feb. 14 presidential election, while Boko Haram denounces democracy.