5 die in Nigeria suicide bombing

Kano, Oct. 30: At least five people were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque in northeastern Nigeria, a militia member assisting the military against Boko Haram jihadists said.

The leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ajiri Yala, some 15 kilometres north of Maiduguri, said the attack happened at about 4.30 am.

“A male suicide bomber disguised as a worshipper entered the mosque while people were gathering for the morning prayers,” he said.

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

Boko Haram typically never claims responsibility but has used suicide bombing as a frequent tactic in its eightyear insurgency to establish a hardline Islamic state.

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 secular government.

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

Last Sunday, 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. — AFP