This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35820533
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
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. |
Surviving Boko Haram | Surviving Boko Haram |
On patrol with the army hunting Boko Haram | On patrol with the army hunting Boko Haram |
Using football to tackle Boko Haram | Using football to tackle Boko Haram |
Boko Haram at a glance: |