Maiduguri: 'Boko Haram' attacks Nigeria police stations Published duration 7 June 2011

image caption Motorbikes are a popular mode of transport but have been banned at night in Maiduguri to stop attacks

At least five people have been killed after police stations were attacked in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, hospital sources say.

The BBC's Bilkisu Babangida in the city says there were at least three explosions, while gunfire rang out in what is believed to be the latest attack by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

Its members have killed dozens of police officers and politicians in the city in the past year.

It wants to overthrow Nigeria's state.

It believes that Western education is wrong.

In 2009, hundreds of its supporters were killed in Maiduguri after they attacked police stations.

The latest raids come a day after the sect was accused of killing a cleric from a different Muslim tradition who had criticised it.

Ibrahim Birkuti was shot dead outside his home in the town of Biu, some 200km (120 miles) south of Maiduguri.

Like previous victims of Boko Haram, he was killed by a gunman riding a motorbike.

Last week, Boko Haram told the BBC it had carried out a series of bombings after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration.

A sect spokesman said it was also responsible for killing the brother of the Shehu of Borno, one of Nigeria's most important Islamic leaders.