Two Nigerian cities rocked with bomb explosions Monday, believed to be the handiwork of militants of the Boko Haram sect.
At least four persons were injured in one of the explosions, police and residents said.
The explosions occurred in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, and Maiduguri, the northeastern city at the heart of Boko Haram’s insurgency.
A blast outside a mosque near Kano’s main textile market went off around 8:30 am in an area where traffic police were stationed, residents said. The area was later cordoned off by troops and policemen, according to an AFP reporter.
Police said the blast was caused by a “time-bomb” and left three traffic police and a passerby wounded.
“There was an explosion around the Kantin Kwari market targeting some traffic personnel,” police spokesman Magaji Majia said.
“Four people were injured. They included a federal road safety personnel, a Hisbah personnel and a state traffic warden as well as a passerby.”
The Hisbah are the local sharia police.
Residents of Maiduguri also reported a huge explosion but did not yet know details.
“There was a very heavy explosion this morning that shook the entire city,” a resident said.
Over 3,000 people have been killed since 2009, when the Boko Haram declared an insurgency against the country after the extra-judicial killing of its leader, Yusuf.
In the last 10 days, the deadly sect bombers and gunmen have struck at the headquarters of Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, killing two policemen and freeing 30 detainees, among them Boko Haram members; two suicide bombers also struck at the elite military formation at Jaji, killing about 17 people.
On Saturday, 10 Christians in Chibok, Borno state were slaughtered like rams by gun and machete wielding Boko Haram militants. The following day, 50 gunmen also believed to be members of the sect invaded the border town of Gamboru-Ngala, killed two policemen and burnt down a police station, and border posts housing, customs, immigration and the secret service.
Despite all these attacks, top Nigerian officials kept telling the world that the nation is safe.
At least four persons were injured in one of the explosions, police and residents said.
The explosions occurred in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, and Maiduguri, the northeastern city at the heart of Boko Haram’s insurgency.
A blast outside a mosque near Kano’s main textile market went off around 8:30 am in an area where traffic police were stationed, residents said. The area was later cordoned off by troops and policemen, according to an AFP reporter.
Police said the blast was caused by a “time-bomb” and left three traffic police and a passerby wounded.
“There was an explosion around the Kantin Kwari market targeting some traffic personnel,” police spokesman Magaji Majia said.
“Four people were injured. They included a federal road safety personnel, a Hisbah personnel and a state traffic warden as well as a passerby.”
The Hisbah are the local sharia police.
Residents of Maiduguri also reported a huge explosion but did not yet know details.
“There was a very heavy explosion this morning that shook the entire city,” a resident said.
Over 3,000 people have been killed since 2009, when the Boko Haram declared an insurgency against the country after the extra-judicial killing of its leader, Yusuf.
In the last 10 days, the deadly sect bombers and gunmen have struck at the headquarters of Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja, killing two policemen and freeing 30 detainees, among them Boko Haram members; two suicide bombers also struck at the elite military formation at Jaji, killing about 17 people.
On Saturday, 10 Christians in Chibok, Borno state were slaughtered like rams by gun and machete wielding Boko Haram militants. The following day, 50 gunmen also believed to be members of the sect invaded the border town of Gamboru-Ngala, killed two policemen and burnt down a police station, and border posts housing, customs, immigration and the secret service.
Despite all these attacks, top Nigerian officials kept telling the world that the nation is safe.
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