Nigeria's military says it declared an all-day curfew and
conducted house to house searches amid fears Islamic extremists armed with
explosives infiltrated the northeastern Yobe state capital of Potiskum.
Capt. Eli Lazarus announced the 24-hour curfew early Wednesday and
ordered people to stay home.
There was an eerie silence and empty streets in the normally
bustling city as Muslims prepared to celebrate the end of the holy month of
Ramadan on Thursday.
A security official, who insisted on anonymity because he was not
authorized to speak to the press, said the army was acting on information that
extremists had infiltrated the city with munitions and explosives.
Potiskum has been the target of previous attacks by extremists.
Nigeria declared a state of emergency in Yobe and two other northeastern states
mid-May.
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