Series of attacks kill over 60 in Nigeria

A series of bombings and shootings have killed more than 60 people in Nigeria. Police suspect that a local Muslim extremist group carried out the attacks.

A car exploded on Friday night at a facility housing a military office and barracks in a town in the northern state of Yobe. The blast killed a number of security guards.

Following this, an armed group engaged in several hours of bomb attacks and shootings overnight, targeting the town's police headquarters, 3 police stations and 6 churches.

The Nigerian Red Cross says at least 63 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded.

The Associated Press reports that a local Muslim extremist group claimed responsibility. The group had said it was behind the August suicide bombing at a building containing UN offices in the country's capital, Abuja.

Nigeria has seen a long conflict between Muslims living predominantly in the north and Christians in the south.

Sunday, November 06, 2011 06:43 +0900 (JST)