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Dozens killed in Nigeria bombing

November 10, 2014

Dozens of students have been killed in an apparent suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria. The attack occurred in Yobe state, which has been the scene of an insurgency by Boko Haram militants.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Djxb
People are treated at the General hospital in Potiskum, Nigeria, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, following a suicide bomb attack at Government Science Technical College Potiskum. (AP Photo/Adamu Adamu)
Image: picture-alliance/Ap Photo/A. Adamu

A suicide bomber wearing a school uniform detonated the explosives on Monday as students of the government technical and sciences college in the city of Potiskum gathered for a morning assembly, according to the AP news agency, quoting eyewitnesses.

News agency reports vary on the number of casualties, with between at least 35 and 48 people, mostly students, reported dead and dozens more injured.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the all-boys high school. Nigerian national police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu told the AFP news agency that police believed the militant group Boko Haram was to blame.

The group's name translates to "Western education is sinful" in the local Hausa language and members have frequently targeted schools for attacks and kidnappings during their five-year insurgency in which they aim to carve out an extreme Islamist state. The group gained international notoriety after abducting more than 200 schoolgirls in April.

Last week, 30 people were reportedly killed in Potiskum in a similar attack.

Nigeria's government, which has been heavily criticized at home and abroad for its handling of the Boko Haram threat, last month announced a ceasefire had been reached with the militants. However, that has reportedly been denied by Boko Haram and violent attacks have continued.

se/nm (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)