Nigeria: Another mosque blast in Borno state kills 27

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

A bomb blast has hit a central mosque in Nigeria's northeast Yola town, killing at least 27 persons and injuring 96 others, an official of the country's relief agency has said.

"A total of 27 people died while 96 others are receiving medical care at Federal Medical Centre Yola and Specialist Hospital Jimeta (both in Adamawa)," said Sani Datti, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency.

Datti said the blast occured during the Muslim Friday prayer ceremonial prayer, or Jum'ah. Yola is the capital city of northeastern Adamawa, one of the three states most hit by Boko Haram violence since 2009.

This came a few hours after seven were confirmed killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, capital town of Borno state - the heartland and birthplace of the insurgency. Sixteen others were injured in the blast during Muslims' fajr, or dawn, prayer.

There have been several attacks on mosques in Borno state. At least 14 people were killed in suspected suicide attacks targeting two mosques in Nigeria's northeast Borno state on October 16.

Boko Haram has emerged as a serious threat in Nigeria. More than 1,700 people have been killed since Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari took office on May 29, according to an Oct. 7 report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law. Since then, more than 100 have died in suicide bombings in Borno and Yobe states.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

A bomb blast has hit a central mosque in Nigeria's northeast Yola town, killing at least 27 persons and injuring 96 others, an official of the country's relief agency has said.

There have been several attacks on mosques in Borno state. At least 14 people were killed in suspected suicide attacks targeting two mosques in Nigeria's northeast Borno state on October 16.