5 Killed İn Church Attack İn Nigeria's Kano

At least five people were killed Sunday after an explosive charge was thrown into a church in Nigeria's northwestern state city of Kano.



"Five persons were killed at St. Charles Family Church Kano when improvised explosive device believed to have been tossed into the church by a suspect from across the road went off," the police wrote on its Twitter handle.



The victims included two males, two females and one soldier.



"Eight other persons were injured and taken to hospital," the police tweeted.



Police said intensive patrols were ongoing and advised citizens to be vigilant.



A lone female suicide bomber died earlier Sunday in a botched bombing attack in Kano.



"Clad in hijab the lady in her teen years was headed to the gate of the Northwestern University Kano when she was detected," Usman Yau, an eyewitness, told Anadolu Agency by phone.



"She blew herself up as police made to get her," he added.



In a statement national police spokesman Frank Mba said five persons have been arrested in connection with the security breaches in the state.



"As part of the ongoing investigation into the various incidents that occurred in Kano police operatives in the ancient city have arrested five male suspects for their complicity in the attacks," he said.



"Two were arrested in connection with foiled bomb attack at Isyaku Rabiu mosque while three were arrested in connection with the attack at St. Charles Church," Mba added.



"All suspects are undergoing interrogation."



A bomb attack at a bus station in Kano metropolis left several people killed last week.



Although no group has claimed responsibility for either attack, Boko Haram militants are usually the first suspects.



Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in Nigeria's local Hausa language, first emerged in the early 2000s preaching against the government misrule and corruption.



The group later became violent, however, after the death of its leader in 2009 while in police custody.



In the five years since, the shadowy sect has been blamed for numerous attacks – on places of worship and government institutions – and thousands of deaths.



By Rafiu Ajakaye



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Lagos