Deadly bomb attack hits Nigerian capital
At least a dozen people killed in attack on outskirts of Abuja, close to site of similar explosion just two weeks ago.
A blast on the outskirts of Nigeria’s capital Abuja has killed at least a dozen people, witnesses and police sources say.
Thursday’s car bombing hit the suburb of Nyanya, close to the site of a morning rush-hour bomb attack at a bus station on April 14 that killed at least 75 people.
Besides the dead, at least 19 people were wounded in the blast, the Associated Press news agency reported quoting police sources.
A correspondent from the AFP news agency reported seeing nine bodies that had been brought from scene of the attack, while a witness at the same hospital who requested anonymity reported seeing seven more bodies.
Boko Haram is armed group fighting what it calls Western influence and wants to form an Islamic state in Africa’s largest oil producer country.
It has claimed responsibility for the April 14 blast in Nyanya and threatened further attacks.
Thursday’s blast came a week before Abuja was due to host the World Economic Forum on Africa, an annual gathering which brings together international leaders, policy makers and entrepreneurs.
Nigeria’s government had announced a big security operation to protect the capital during the forum.