Violence continues in Nigeria as military shells Islamic militants´ compound

More than 150 women and children fled the compound of Islamic militant Mohammed Yussuf as Nigerian military shelled his base in the northern city of Maiduguru. Yussuf´s organization the Boko Haram has staged several attacks against police compounds in northern Nigeria since last Sunday.

The violence has claimed the lives of more than 300 people according to Nigerian human rights groups, although government officials claim that most of those killed have been militants. Nigeria´s population is evenly split between Christians and Muslims with the latter dominating the northern regions.

Islamic groups have staged attacks against Nigerian security forces in four northeastern states since Sunday.  As the fighting continues between the Boko Haram and the Nigerian government civilians are beginning to get caught in the crossfire. Some 4,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the Associated Press.  The whereabouts of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yussuf are still unknown.