Meanwhile the Niger army said on Saturday it had killed 32 Boko Haram fighters from during “sweeping up” operations following the attack by “Boko Haram elements”. Buhari has pledged to crack down on terrorist network Boko Haram, which has stepped up attacks in the northern part of the country since his election.
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This is the second time the city suffers an attack this year; earlier in May, quite a number of persons were killed and injured in an explosion that occurred around the city’s motor park.
Though nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, the blame will likely fall on terror group Boko Haram, which has already killed hundreds of Muslims and Christians during this year’s Ramadan.
“The first blast went off around 7:15 am (0615 GMT) while security volunteers… were waiting for the worshippers so they could assist in crowd control”, he said.
“While we were attending to the victims we heard another blast about 500 metres (yards) away”.
Recently installed Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will meet President Barack Obama on Monday and is expected to discuss his government’s drive to defeat Boko Haram, which identifies itself as an ally of Islamic extremist group ISIS, CNN reported.
Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said the road between Damaturu, capital of Yobe state and Biu, a major commercial centre in Borno state, had been cleared of mines by special forces, backed by police and vigilantes engaged in the fight against Boko Haram.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. would offer to help Nigeria’s new leader track down billions of dollars in stolen assets and increase U.S. military assistance to fight Islamic militants, U.S. officials said, as Washington seeks to “reset” ties with Africa’s biggest economy.
Human Rights Watch also urged Obama to raise corruption issues with Buhari as well as the need to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which became law during the administration of Nigeria’s previous president, Goodluck Jonathan.
The west African nation decided to halt a USA training program for an army battalion which would have developed into a unit to take on the militants.
A military bomb disposal expert told the Associated Press that nearly all of the female bombers are strapped with explosives that are remotely detonated. Said violence has surged since Buhari took office in May, as more than 700 people have been killed in the last two months.
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Nigerian soldiers have said they are outnumbered and outgunned by Boko Haram and often are sent into battle with no food and just 30 bullets each.
