AhlulBayt News Agency

source : AFP
Monday

30 October 2017

12:57:40 PM
863490

At least 5 killed in suicide bombing in Nigeria mosque

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - At least five people were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber blew himselfup inside a mosque in northeastern Nigeria, a militia member assisting themilitary against Boko Haram terrorists said.

The leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ajiri Yala, some 15kilometres (10 miles) north of Maiduguri, said the attack happened at about4:30 am (0330 GMT).

"A male suicide bomber disguised as a worshipper entered the mosque whilepeople were gathering for the morning prayers," he told AFP by telephone.

"He detonated his explosives. He killed five people and injured several others."

Boko Haram typically never claims responsibility but has used suicide bombingas a frequent tactic in its eight-year insurgency.

Mosques that do not ascribe to its extremist views are seen as legitimate targets, as are people and places seen to be supportive of the government.

On Sunday, a CJTF member manning a checkpoint in the Muna area of Maiduguri waskilled and another injured when two women strapped with explosives blew themselves up.

A week earlier, 14 people were killed when three women detonated their explosives near the Muna Garage camp, which is home to tens of thousands of people made homeless by the violence.

The United Nations warned recently that attack against internally displaced people (IDPs) in camps across the region "continue to be a major concern".

But Boko Haram also poses a threat to the military, despite government claims the group has been weakened to the point of defeat by a sustained counter-insurgency.

Last week, at least 15 soldiers were killed in a raid on a military camp northof Damaturu, which is the capital of Yobe state bordering Borno.

ISIS terrorist group, which backs the Boko Haram faction headed by Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi, claimed the attack.



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