The leader of an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence in Nigeria has been killed in custody, police officials say.

The announcement came just hours after police said they had captured Mohammed Yusuf in the city of Maiduguri.

Mr Yusuf leads Boko Haram, which wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law.

His followers have been blamed for violence in the north-east that has left more than 300 people dead.

"He has been killed. You can come and see his body at the state police command headquarters," said Isa Azare, spokesman for the Maiduguri police command, told Reuters news agency.

He was arrested earlier in the day, after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law's house.

Troops had stormed the sect's stronghold on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee.

The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the northeast.

I am happy for him, i am sure he is with his father lucifer in hell as we write.

Whoever killed him has made a terrible mistake. Now the problem won't go away easily.

This is a case of accidental discharge. . .

Good riddance to bad rubbish !! was not suprised he was found hiding in a goat pen cos only a goat wuld ave the kind of ideas running in his goatish mind Neither am i suprised to hear of accidental discharge,  na today? dis has bin the case in our beloved naija, anytime any of these lunatics troubling the country is caught, the person either dies "accidentally "or nothing is heard again about the issue. where is clifford orji the alleged cannibal? where is Sgt rogers? where is,,   the list is endless, i pray God protects us all from the evil ones ( amen)

may his soul rest in peacis.But our Government shou'ld be blame for this genocide.they breath and fund them for politics.in Bauchi there members were detained by Mallam Isa yuguda for fear of attack when mr President visited Bauchi state for YUGUDU to decamp toPDP when they fouth to bring him to power. God will help naija lets keep praying.

Are you sure he is dead, was his dead body shown to the public ?

Hausa people can go and hide him and come here and be sayin that he is dead,

Iraq and afganistan normaly claims Osama Bin Laden is dead so that America will stop mounting pressure on them.

No he is not dead but he is Al janna, enjoying himself wth
72 virgins