Suicide attack kills over 50 in northeast Nigeria

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

At least 50 people have been killed and several dozens injured in a suicide attack at a mosque in the northeastern Adamawa state of Nigeria on Tuesday morning, police said.

“At around 5.20 a.m. [0420GMT] today, a boy around 17 years of age detonated a suicide vest shortly after the commencement of the morning prayers at a mosque in Mubi town,” Othman Abubakar, a police spokesman, told Anadolu Agency by phone.

“As at the last count, we have 50 dead but we are still following developments in various hospitals,” Abubakar said.

Mustapha Ladan, an emergency worker, had earlier said they presently have 41 dead bodies.

“At the moment, we have 41 dead bodies while dozens are being treated at a nearby hospital,” he had told Anadolu Agency by phone.

Despite government's claim of having defeated the group, Boko Haram continues its deadly attacks on soft targets, mostly using suicide bombers and skeletal attacks in isolated areas of the region.

On Sunday, six farmers were shot dead and then mutilated at a plantation in Borno state.