Bomb blast targets political meeting in NE Nigeria, killing 8

A bomb blast in the northeastern Nigerian city of Potiskum has claimed the lives of at least eight people.

According to Nigerian security officials on Sunday, a bomber blew his explosives up at a political meeting of the country’s ruling People’s Democratic Party in Potiskum.

“We have evacuated eight bodies including the suicide bomber’s to hospital,” said a police officer at the site of the blast.

The attack was carried out just two weeks before the Nigerians go to the presidential poll on February 14.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, the Nigerian government blames such attacks on Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group.

Back in January, Nigerian National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki said it would be more prudent to delay the poll amid the rising number of Boko Haram terrorist attacks.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls large parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009, which have left over 13,000 people dead and 1.5 million displaced.

Boko Haram has also conducted military operations in Nigeria’s neighboring countries, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.