The town has seen days of violence, with 31 reported killed and hundreds of residents fleeing since Thursday.
On Friday, the army said it had detained Boko Haram commander Shuaibu Muhammed Bama at a senator's home in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.
The claim has fuelled suspicion that politicians are helping the militants.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross reports that the conflict in Potiskum has reached an unprecedented level, with gunfights, bombings and targeted killings.
In the latest violence, suspected Boko Haram gunmen hurled a bomb at a military patrol.
"Some of our men died during the attack, but the rule is that their families have to be notified first before it is announced," the source told the BBC.
An army spokesman confirmed that two soldiers were wounded.
'Siding with Boko Haram'
On Friday, gunmen stormed the home of a retired head of customs in Potiskum, taking him away with his son and then shooting them both.
Meanwhile, a military spokesman said Mr Bama was suspected of organising recent attacks in the region.
The army's claim that Mr Bama was held in a senator's house has once again fuelled the debate on whether politicians are helping the Islamist group, our correspondent says.
Last year, another senator, also from Borno state, was arrested and charged over links to Boko Haram.
The senator denied any wrongdoing and was later released on bail.
Analysts suggest that some politicians in northern Nigeria are prepared to side with the militants in order to discredit the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the south of the country, our correspondent adds.
Nigeria is roughly divided between a largely Muslim north, and the south, where Christianity and traditional religions dominate.
Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow the government and impose Sharia law across Nigeria.
Attacks in central and northern Nigeria blamed on the group have killed some 1,400 people since 2010.
source: BBC
0 comments:
Post a Comment