Nigeria hit by wave of suicide bombings as violence spikes

Four people were killed in suicide attacks by two female bombers on Sunday in the latest deadly violence in northeast Nigeria after the military appealed for support to help fight Boko Haram. The two women targeted a crowded market in Potiskum, Yobe State, a day after 19 people were killed in a similar attack in neighbouring Borno State, by a girl thought to be aged just 10. Potiskum — a repeated target for the militants — was also hit on Saturday, when a car exploded outside a police station, killing the driver and an officer. The three explosions followed what is thought to be the worst attack in the bloody six-year insurgency, when Boko Haram fighters attacked the Borno town of Baga and razed at least 16 surrounding settlements.

The attack on the town…should convince well-meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is the evil all must collaborate to end, rather than vilifying those working to check them.

defence spokesman Chris Olukolade

Nigeria’s military — west Africa’s largest — has faced repeated criticism for failing to end the Islamist insurgency, as well as allegations of human rights abuses. Soldiers have complained of a lack of adequate weapons and even refused to deploy to take on the better-armed rebels. Security analysts have said more attacks were to be expected, as Nigerians go to the polls next month and the insurgents are looking to further undermine the legitimacy of the vote and the secular government. Nigeria’s main opposition has already said that the overall result of the February 14 poll could be invalidated because tens of thousands of displaced people in the northeast will not be able to vote.

…These images of recent days and all they imply for the future of Nigeria should galvanise effective action. For this cannot go on.

UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said in a statement

Africa