Attacks in Nigeria's Borno State kill 90

Originally published on March 3, 2014

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Twin car bombings in Nigeria's eastern Borno state killed over 90 men women and children over the weekend, attacks blamed on Islamic extremists.

A truck that appeared to be carrying firewood blew up in a crowded marketplace in the city of Maiduguri on Saturday (March 1) evening.

The busy marketplace was open late and a wedding was also taking place when the truck bomb detonated.

Scores of people, including children, were killed when the bomb exploded near a movie theater they were attending.

A second blast was timed to go off as people were coming to the aid of those hurt in the first explosion. Witnesses saw a man exit a vehicle and hail a tricycle taxi before his car also exploded.

Onlookers chased down the tricycle taxi and beat the suspected terrorist, who reportedly later died in hospital.

At least 90 people were killed in the twin blasts, with suspicion falling on the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, which has carried out numerous deadly attacks over the last four years.

Nigerian media have criticized the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to reign in the militants, who have claimed responsibility for gruesome attacks that killed hundreds of civilians, teachers, and high school students in the month of February alone.

In the neighboring states of Adamawa and Yobe, over 300 people were killed in February, with many victims burnt alive in dorm rooms.

Nigerian soldiers stand accused of abandoning checkpoints and leaving civilians at the mercy of extremists in two attacks last week that killed some 100 people, including 60 high school students.

Reports claim the soldiers argued they are outnumbered and outgunned, making it impossible for them to stop the atrocities.

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