ABUJA - The Nigerian army said on Friday it destroyed the headquarters of Boko Haram after capturing the northeastern town of Gwoza from the Islamist insurgent group.
Boko Haram seized Gwoza in August last year, declaring that they were ruling the town by Islamic law. The insurgents were believed to have held some 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok almost a year ago in the town.
The announcement of the capture of Gwoza comes a day ahead of Nigeria's presidential election in which President Goodluck Jonathan will face former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
Several members of Boko Haram were killed and a mop-up operation was taking place in Gwoza, the army said on its official twitter account, adding that details would follow.
The Nigerian government was not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by Alison Williams)any thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when the group began its insurgency to create an Islamic state.ABUJA - Nigeria is claiming that it has destroyed the headquarters of Boko Haram.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan warned against violence ahead of Saturday's presidential election as people began stockpiling food, cash and fuel for fear of clashes.
Jonathan will face former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari in what is seen as the closest presidential race since the end of military rule in 1999.
In a broadcast to the nation on Friday, Jonathan said no political ambition could justify violence or bloodshed, adding that security measures had been taken to guarantee a free and fair election.
"Let me warn, however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard," he said.
"Those who may harbour any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again," Jonathan said.
He added that security agencies were ready to deal with anyone who tried to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause public disorder in the country, Africa's top oil producer and biggest economy.
Around 800 people died in post-election violence in 2011 in which Jonathan defeated Buhari. Western powers have been pressing both sides not to stoke tensions, with U.S. President Barack Obama issuing a direct appeal for calm this week.
In the capital Abuja, however, long queues formed outside banks from people seeking to withdraw money. Queues for fuel also stretched for hundreds of metres in cities across the country.
Many thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when the group began its insurgency to create an Islamic state.
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