Nigeria: Suicide attack kills 2 at apartment mosque

By Olanrewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - A suicide bomber killed himself and at least one other person early Tuesday at a mosque in an apartment building for government workers in northeast Nigerian.

The attack took place at about 5.22 a.m. (0422GMT) at the Dalori Quarters, about 500 meters from the University of Maiduguri campus, where another explosion killed five people including a professor barely two weeks ago, said local police spokesman, Victor Isuku.

The second victim of the blast was a member of the local Civilian Joint Task Force or JTF security personnel, said Isuku.

"He was trying to prevent the bomber from accessing the area when the bomber triggered the explosive devices strapped to his body," he said.

Sani Dattim, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said rescue-and-search teams are combing the scene, an indication the death toll may climb.

The Nigerian military and police over the weekend warned residents to be more vigilant as Boko Haram militants fleeing a military onslaught in their camps may have deployed suicide bombers to some towns and cities in the country’s northern region.