27th July, 2014
A Catholic church in Kano, northern Nigeria has been hit by Boko Haram bomb, with reports that no fewer than five persons have been killed.
The attack occurred today after mass.
Police spokesman Frank Mba said that the bomb was “probably an IED (improvised explosive device) thrown from across the street” at the Saint Charles Catholic church in Kano’s Sabon Gari district, which has suffered previous attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram.
Idowu Kazim, a mechanic in the area, said: “We heard the explosion at around 2:15 pm (1315 GMT) and moments later a police anti-bomb truck sped past in the direction of the scene.”
Another resident who lives near the church told AFP on condition of anonymity the blast “made me dash out to my balcony”.
On June 23, a bomb blast at a public health college in the city killed at least eight, while on May 19, a suicide car bomb attack in Sabon Gari killed at least four people, including a young girl.
At least four strong explosions rocked the same area on July 29 last year, killing 12. Last Thursday, a Luxury Bus Park was also bombed by Boko Haram. Four persons were killed.
Blame has been attributed to the Islamist militants, who have been waging a violent insurgency in the country’s north since 2009