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Nigeria mosque hit by Maiduguri suicide bombers Nigeria mosque hit by Maiduguri suicide bombers
(about 2 hours later)
Two female suicide bombers have attacked a mosque in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing 22 worshippers, the army says.Two female suicide bombers have attacked a mosque in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing 22 worshippers, the army says.
The first bomber struck inside the mosque, while the second blew herself up outside as survivors tried to flee, eye witnesses told the BBC.The first bomber struck inside the mosque, while the second blew herself up outside as survivors tried to flee, eye witnesses told the BBC.
Eighteen other people were wounded in the attack, the army added.Eighteen other people were wounded in the attack, the army added.
Maiduguri is the birthplace of Islamist group Boko Haram's insurgency which has killed 20,000 people since 2009.Maiduguri is the birthplace of Islamist group Boko Haram's insurgency which has killed 20,000 people since 2009.
"We were just a few metres away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around,'' another witness told Associated Press news agency."We were just a few metres away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around,'' another witness told Associated Press news agency.
Analysis: Martin Patience, BBC News, Abuja
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari told the BBC last December that Nigeria had "technically won the war" against Boko Haram.
He said that the militant group could no longer mount "conventional attacks" against security forces or population centres.
That may be true but it does not mean the conflict is over - far from it.
The Nigerian army may have recaptured towns and villages that were controlled by the Islamist militants but Boko Haram still has bases and responded by switching tactics.
It now uses improvised explosive devices to attack the military and increasingly deploys children and women as suicide bombers to hit soft targets such as mosques.
The group is also staging cross-border attacks in neighbouring countries. Belatedly, there is now the realisation that the group is a regional threat.
But as we've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, militants groups with dedicated followers can sustain their violent campaigns for many years.
And as this latest attack in Maiduguri shows, the bombers are extremely difficult to stop.
The attack took place a few minutes after worshippers started an early morning prayer, the chief imam of Umarari mosque on the outskirts of the city told the BBC Hausa service.The attack took place a few minutes after worshippers started an early morning prayer, the chief imam of Umarari mosque on the outskirts of the city told the BBC Hausa service.
"My hearing was affected by the blast. I can't hear well at the moment," he added."My hearing was affected by the blast. I can't hear well at the moment," he added.
A statement from Nigeria's army says all the wounded have been taken to a hospital in a nearby town.A statement from Nigeria's army says all the wounded have been taken to a hospital in a nearby town.
Last year, a regional military offensive helped drive out Boko Haram from most of the areas it had seized in north-eastern Nigeria.Last year, a regional military offensive helped drive out Boko Haram from most of the areas it had seized in north-eastern Nigeria.
However, the group, which is linked to the so-called Islamic State, has continued to carry out suicide attacks in northern Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon.However, the group, which is linked to the so-called Islamic State, has continued to carry out suicide attacks in northern Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon.
Boko Haram at a glance:
Surviving Boko HaramSurviving Boko Haram
On patrol with the army hunting Boko HaramOn patrol with the army hunting Boko Haram
Using football to tackle Boko HaramUsing football to tackle Boko Haram
Boko Haram at a glance: