Friday prayers at a mosque in Nigeria turned into a massacre as two suicide bombers and a group of armed men attacked, resulting in at least 120 deaths. According to a report from Agence France-Presse on Friday, December 7, the two suicide bombers detonated themselves among the worshippers, followed by armed men opening fire on the survivors, leading to at least 120 deaths and 270 injuries. The attack occurred at the central mosque in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, which is predominantly Muslim. The mosque is also located near the palace of Muhammad Sanusi II, a senior cleric in Nigeria, who had urged citizens to take up arms against Boko Haram the previous week. The report states that hours before the attack on the Kano central mosque, another mosque in the northern city of Maiduguri was targeted but the attack failed. Nigeria had also witnessed another terrorist attack five days prior, where two suicide bombers detonated themselves among the crowd, killing over 45 people. Agence France-Presse quoted a spokesperson for the Nigerian National Police regarding Friday's incident, stating that the suicide bombers detonated themselves shortly after entering the crowd, and as worshippers attempted to flee, others opened fire on them. An angry crowd of worshippers killed four of the armed men. The report further mentions that the extremist group Boko Haram has repeatedly carried out terrorist operations in Kano, including a suicide bombing at a gas station two weeks ago that killed six people. Boko Haram also has a history of terrorist attacks against senior clerics in Nigeria, including a suicide bombing in 2012 that killed five people at the home of an Islamic leader. In related news, attacks on villagers and churches in Nigeria have resulted in dozens of casualties, with 'over 80' victims reported in the latest round of attacks. Boko Haram has declared one of Nigeria's cities as 'part of the Islamic caliphate' and has made various uses of abducted women.
Suicide Attacks on Mosque in Nigeria Leave at Least 120 Dead
A coordinated attack involving suicide bombers and armed assailants at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, resulted in at least 120 deaths and over 270 injuries. The attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, an extremist group that has a history of targeting both civilians and religious leaders in Nigeria. This incident underscores the deteriorating security situation in northern Nigeria, which is of concern to regional and international observers.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A coordinated attack by two suicide bombers and armed men at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, resulted in at least 120 deaths and over 270 injuries during Friday prayers. The attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram in the region.
- The attack occurred at the central mosque in Kano, a predominantly Muslim city.
- This incident follows a series of violent attacks by Boko Haram, including a failed attack earlier the same day.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Boko Haram has been responsible for numerous attacks in Nigeria, targeting civilians and religious figures, and has declared parts of the country as part of an Islamic caliphate.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%