An estimate of 64 people have been killed in suicide bombings that occurred in northeastern towns of Damaturu and Gombe. These attacks are a part of a string of bombings that have been occurring during the
Remains of bombing in the city of Jos by Boko Haram in May 2014.
Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan.
A 10-year old girl and an elderly women are thought to have carried out the suicide bombing at prayer grounds in Damaturu on Friday, killing 12 people as they were celebrating the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman said in a statement, “two female suicide bombers--an elderly woman and a ten year old girl-- detonated devices at screening areas mounted by the security for intending Muslim worshippers.”
Two other bombings have occurred prior to the bombing in Damaturu in a marketplace in Gombe, killing 50 people that were shopping for Eid celebrations.
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.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has made driving out the terror group from the country one of the main concerns of his administration, but the bombings and attacks from the terror group have only increased in number and grown in intensity since Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, 2015.
Buhari is expected to meet with President Obama on Monday, as part of a four-day visit, to possibly request help from the U.S. in tackling the violence.
According to a statement from the Nigerian presidency, the meeting will focus on “measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and west Africa.”
