9 killed in car bomb blast at checkpoint in northern Nigeria
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — A car bomb targeting a military checkpoint on a road leading to Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri exploded Tuesday, killing all nine people in the vehicle, police and witnesses said.
Those killed were the driver and passengers in the explosives-laden minivan, said police deputy superintendent Victor Isuku, blaming Boko Haram Islamic extremists. Army spokesman Col. Sani Kukesheka Usman put the number of dead at eight. He said the attackers wore “suicide vests” in addition to the car bomb.
Bus driver Garba Saje was driving behind the vehicle. “Suddenly, a loud bang sounded and all I could see was smoke,” he said. “My legs are still shaking because I am in shock over the increased bombing attacks.”
He said he is not going to drive for a while because “everyone is a target now.”