Africa

Boko Haram blamed for suicide bombs at Nigerian IDP camp

Tuesday’s suicide bombings at displaced persons camp in northeastern town of Dikwa killed 58 people and injured 78 others

Ekip  | 10.02.2016 - Update : 16.02.2016
Boko Haram blamed for suicide bombs at Nigerian IDP camp

Lagos

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS

Tuesday’s suicide bombings at a displaced persons camp in Nigeria’s northeastern town of Dikwa killed 58 people and injured 78 others, Nigerian relief agency NEMA has said.

"Suicide bombing suspected to be by Boko Haram killed 58, injured 78 in an IDP [Internally Displaced Persons] camp in Dikwa Borno State," the agency tweeted on Thursday morning without giving further details.

Security sources had told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that at least 65 persons had died with 150 injured.

Regional coordinator for NEMA, Mohammed Kanar said the incident occurred Tuesday when the displaced stood in line to collect food at the camp that is home to over 50,000 IDPs.

"The bombers were apparently on the queue when they detonated their explosives," he added, without specifying the number of attackers.

Nigeria's vice president Yemi Osinbajo has ordered tighter security measures across IDP camps, and reiterated the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari government to crush the insurgency currently ravaging the region.

"It is indeed regrettable that the heartless terrorists chose to unleash their wickedness on people who were taking refuge from previous acts of destruction in their homes," said the vice president in a condolence statement on the incident.

The attack in Dikwa is the third major suicide bombing in about two weeks in the region. The last in Dalori IDP camp was on Jan. 30 when over 86 people were confirmed killed. On Jan. 29, a suicide attack killed at least 10 people in the neighboring Adamawa state.

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