Nigeria's Boko Haram: Goodluck Jonathan visits refugees
President Goodluck Jonathan has made a surprise visit to north-east Nigeria, in the aftermath of mass killings by Boko Haram Islamist militants.
Mr Jonathan told some of the 5,000 refugees who fled last-week's violence: "I want to assure you that you will soon go back to your houses."
It was his first visit to the north-east since March 2013.
Critics have accused the president of ignoring the victims of Boko Haram's violence in the region.
He cancelled a trip to the region last year.
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'Wiped off' towns
During Thursday's visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the president told more than 900 displaced people that he was "working very hard" to ensure that they could return.
James Robbins reports: ''Survivors speak of killing on a huge scale''
He pledged that "all the areas under the control of Boko Haram will soon be recaptured".
President Jonathan's visit came as the UK-based human rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll.
The pictures show some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga last week, the human-rights group said.
Amnesty's before and after satellite images were taken on 2 January and 7 January. Healthy vegetation is shown in red on the graphics.
Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 were killed, putting the toll at just 150.
The BBC's Will Ross says that while the images show the destructive nature of Boko Haram, they do not help establish just how many people were killed.
Amnesty cited witnesses saying that militants had killed indiscriminately.
"These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days," Daniel Eyre, an Amnesty researcher, said in a statement.
"It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out ruins," he said.
There has been a surge in violence linked to Boko Haram. In the past week there have also been several attacks, including by suspected child suicide bombers.
Nigeria is to hold elections next month, amid growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country.
'Wiped off' towns
During Thursday's visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the president told more than 900 displaced people that he was "working very hard" to ensure that they could return.
James Robbins reports: ''Survivors speak of killing on a huge scale''
He pledged that "all the areas under the control of Boko Haram will soon be recaptured".
President Jonathan's visit came as the UK-based human rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of towns attacked by Boko Haram, suggesting widespread destruction and a high death toll.
The pictures show some 3,700 structures damaged or destroyed in Baga and neighbouring Doron Baga last week, the human-rights group said.
Amnesty's before and after satellite images were taken on 2 January and 7 January. Healthy vegetation is shown in red on the graphics.
Nigeria's government has disputed reports that as many as 2,000 were killed, putting the toll at just 150.
The BBC's Will Ross says that while the images show the destructive nature of Boko Haram, they do not help establish just how many people were killed.
Amnesty cited witnesses saying that militants had killed indiscriminately.
"These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days," Daniel Eyre, an Amnesty researcher, said in a statement.
"It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out ruins," he said.
There has been a surge in violence linked to Boko Haram. In the past week there have also been several attacks, including by suspected child suicide bombers.
Nigeria is to hold elections next month, amid growing doubts whether they can successfully go ahead in all parts of the country.
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