Boko Haram Claims Suicide Blasts at Nigeria Police Stations
ICC Note
Nigeria's radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, fights to impose strict form of Sharia law all over Nigeria. The group is known for targeting Christians, security officials and moderate Muslims.
08/01/2012 Nigeria (RNW)-Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists on Wednesday claimed suicide blasts at two police posts in the country's northwest and a separate attack at a home belonging to Vice President Namadi Sambo.
The statement also warned that Boko Haram would kill those recruited to spy on the group.
Twin bombings on Monday in the city of Sokoto, the historic seat of Islam in the country, killed two people and wounded 30 others. The bombers also died in the blasts.
"We wish to extend our profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity to fulfill the promise we made on launching simultaneous attacks in Sokoto," said the statement from purported Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa.
...
The statement also claimed that Boko Haram gunmen had fired on Sambo's home in the northern town of Zaria on Monday. One civilian was killed in the assault.
...
"We are responsible for the attacks ... at the residence of Namadi Sambo," said the statement written in Hausa.
In a message released last month, Qaqa said Boko Haram would "continue to hunt for government officials wherever they are; they will have no peace again."
The group has previously targeted government installations.
Police in Kaduna state, where Zaria is a key town, said they had arrested two of the three gunmen suspected of carrying out the attack on Sambo's house.
...
Boko Haram has been blamed for the deaths of more than 1,000 people since mid-2009.
...
