Nigeria: Deadly suicide bombing in Maiduguri July 17

Event

A female suicide bomber reportedly detonated an explosive while trying to enter a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. According to a local police spokesperson, the attack occurred at approximately 04:30 (local time), shortly before morning prayers, killing eight and wounding 18 others.

Although no group or individual has claimed responsibility, the area is regularly attacked by terrorist groups and Boko Haram frequently uses female suicide bombers. 

Context

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. As of early June 2017, 62 people have been killed in Maiduguri and the surrounding area. Public venues (markets, places of worship, schools, bars, areas where broadcasts of sports competitions are displayed, etc.) as well as security forces and governmental buildings are frequently struck by attacks, suicide bombings (targeted or untargeted), and kidnappings (regularly followed by assassination and targeting primarily foreign nationals).

Advice

The security environment in Nigeria is complex and particularly poor in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.