Suicide Bombing Kills 60 in Nigeria Camp for Internally Displaced Persons

Germany's President Joachim Gauck during a visit to a camp of displaced people on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria. Germany's President Joachim Gauck during a visit to a camp of displaced people on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria. © AP Photo/Olamikan Gbemiga

10 February 2016
Suicide bombers killed more than 60 people at a camp for internally displaced persons in north eastern Nigeria.

Two female suicide bombers entered a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) by a seven-year insurgency group of islamic extremist militant group Boko Haram in the northeast Nigerian town of Dikwa. The bombers detonated themselves in the centre of the camp, killing 60 people and injuring 78 others.

The suicide bombers appear to be teenage girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in recent years. The attack took place in a camp of 50,000 people fleeing their homes because of the Boko Haram attacks. A third suicide bomber did not proceed with the attack and removed her vest after allegedly seeing her father among the people in the camp. The girl has since confessed and provided officials with information about other planned bombings. Boko Haram has reportedly kidnapped women, children and men to be used as suicide bombers over the years.

Boko Haram has increased the frequency and intensity of these attacks in the region since it lost territory to a state-led counter-offensive last year. The attacks include hit-and-runs in villages, and suicide bombings at religious sites and markets. In late January, at least 65 people were killed in Maiduguri. Attacks on IDP camps have been rare, and Tuesday’s attack was the first to kill victims in Borno state. The first targeted attack on an IDP camp in Nigeria was in September 2015, in the Adamawa state capital of Yola.

Last year, the Nigerian government claimed to have been winning the fight against Boko Haram. Recent attacks have proven the continued existence and strength of Boko Haram, which, despite having lost their territory, continue to launch attacks on the civilian population.

          

To read more, visit:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2016/Feb-11/336640-female-suicide-bombers-kill-over-60-people-in-nigeria.ashx
http://www.news24.com.ng/National/News/suicide-bomber-gets-cold-feet-refuses-to-kill-20160211
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/12/466584875/female-suicide-bombers-sent-by-boko-haram-blamed-for-attack-in-nigeria
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKCN0VJ265

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