Nigerian troops storm sect's compound

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: Security forces hunted door-to-door for Islamic militants in northern Nigeria yesterday after killing more than 100 of them by storming the sect's compound. A top rights group said innocent people were getting executed in the process.

The government, which blames the Boko Haram sect for instigating days of violence in the mostly Muslim region, shelled and stormed the group's mosque and headquarters on Wednesday night, setting off a raging firefight with retreating militants.

Sect leader Mohammed Yusuf escaped along with about 300 followers but his deputy was killed, according to Army commander Major General Saleh Maina.