Africa

Twin suicide bombs kill at least 26 near mosque in Nigeria

Boko Haram suspected of carrying out attack in city of Maiduguri

A victim of a suicide bomb attack lies on a bed hospital in a state hospital, after four suicide bombers blew themselves up in the city of Maiduguri earlier this month. Photogrpah: AFP/Getty Images
A victim of a suicide bomb attack lies on a bed hospital in a state hospital, after four suicide bombers blew themselves up in the city of Maiduguri earlier this month. Photogrpah: AFP/Getty Images
Fri Oct 16 2015 - 08:15

Two bombs have exploded near a mosque in Nigeria's beleaguered north-eastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least 26 people, witnesses said.

Residents who heard the massive blasts at evening prayer time immediately blamed Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group that began in the city.

It came after seven people were killed by twin suicide bombers on Wednesday in a suburb of Maiduguri, a city that has nearly as many residents as refugees from the six-year-old Islamic uprising that has killed about 20,000 people.

A civilian defence fighter who helped victims said he counted 26 bodies and 25 wounded people at the scene of the latest blasts near a mosque in the Mulai suburb.