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.
Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city’s police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces.
Several days of gun battles between militants and Nigerian security forces ensured, culminating in the assault on the militant’s stronghold.