Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for twin
bomb attacks on the outskirts of Nigeria’s
capital, Abuja, the group said in a message
posted on social media on Sunday evening.
At least 18 people were killed and 41 injured in
the bombings on Friday night, in Kuje, to the
west of Abuja, and in Nyanya, to the east, the
authorities said.
Suspicion immediately fell on the Islamist
militants, who last year said they were behind
two attacks in Nyanya that left more than 90
dead.
The claim of responsibility on Twitter was
signed by Islamic State in West Africa Province,
used by Boko Haram since its pledge of
allegiance to the militants in Syria and Iraq in
March.
It showed photographs of three men in combat
fatigues, holding automatic weapons and in
front of the group’s insignia, and claimed they
had carried out “martyrdom operations”.
The police on Saturday said “preliminary
investigations revealed the bomb blasts were
carried out by two suicide bombers — a male
and a female”.
The Arabic message said the trio’s targets were
police stations in Nyanya and Kuje, calling them
“strongholds of the apostates (non-believers)”,
according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
One militant attacked Nyanya, the other two
Kuje, it said.
Boko Haram has previously attacked police
stations and prisons, where militant fighters
have been held. Kuje prison, near Abuja’s
airport, currently houses dozens of Boko Haram
inmates.
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