67 die in Nigerian violence

Wave of bombings and shootings carried out in north-east Nigeria overnight kills at least 67.

LAGOS // At least 67 people died in a wave of bombings and shootings carried out in north-east Nigeria overnight, officials said yesterday, as frightened mourners left their homes to begin burying their dead.

There was no claim of responsibility, but blame immediately fell on the radical Muslim sect known as Boko Haram, which has staged assassinations and bombings in Nigeria's north.

The attacks centred on Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, a Nigerian Red Cross official, Ibrahim Bulama, said. The violence started on Friday with a car bomb outside a building used as a military office and barracks, killing many uniformed security agents, Mr Bulama said.

Gunmen then went through the town, blowing up a bank and attacking three police stations and churches, he said. Gunfire continued through the night and the village of Potiskum near the capital was also raided leaving at least two people dead there.

Yesterday, people began leaving their homes, seeing the destruction left behind. The attacks around Damaturu came after four bombings in Maiduguri, about 130 kilometres east, which killed several people. Police had warned of violence ahead of Eid Al Adha in the country of 160 million split between a Christian south and a Muslim north.