Bomb blasts kill 30 in northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram blamed
YOLA, Nigeria — Two women suicide bombers blew themselves up at a bustling market in northeast Nigeria’s Madagali town on Friday morning, killing at least 30 people and wounding 67, an army spokesman told The Associated Press.
The attack comes as Nigeria’s government claims it is routing the Boko Haram Islamic extremists blamed for the blasts. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday night called it “an act of desperation.” In a message of condolence, he also vowed Nigeria’s military is working “at slamming the final nail in the coffin of Boko Haram.”
The explosions occurred on the edge of the extremist group’s Sambisa Forest stronghold, which Nigeria’s military has been bombing ahead of ground assaults. Since the military has dislodged the insurgents from towns and villages this year, they have been attacking soft targets.
Madagali was liberated last year after seven months in the hands of Boko Haram. It is 150 kilometres (95 miles) southeast of the biggest northeastern city, Maiduguri.