Maiduguri, capital of Borno State with population of over one million, close to falling to Boko Haram fighters, say elders Men gather around a car bomb attack in Maiduguri, Borno State, in July. The attack was blamed on Boko Haram Boko Haram fighters have "completely surrounded" the major northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri and are preparing an imminent takeover, residents warned yesterday, calling for military reinforcements. The warning comes after the United States warned of an attack on the city of over one million residents, as analysts said the government risked losing control of the region. But Nigeria's military described the warning from the Borno Elders Forum – an influential regional group made up of retired senior civilian and military officials – as "alarmist", saying it was "clearly intended to cause panic in the city and the nation". Maiduguri has special significance for Boko Haram. It was where the heavily armed Islamist...