Car bomb attack claims eight lives in northeast Nigeria

At least eight people have been killed in a car bomb attack at a checkpoint in the northeastern Nigerian state of Yobe, security sources say. 

A senior local Nigerian police official said that the bomb attack happened at about 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) on Monday at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.

The blast occurred as security personnel searched vehicles at the checkpoint on a major highway that connects the troubled city with Borno State's capital, Maiduguri.

"Eight people, including two bombers, were killed in the explosion. Two policemen were among the victims," Yobe state police spokesman Toyin Gbadeges said.

The other four who died in the fatal bomb attack were motorists.

Witnesses said that the casualties were caused after the bombers riding in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at the checkpoint

"A police highway patrol team was searching vehicles just outside the city and an SUV with a foreign number [plate] arrived at the spot," AFP quoted Umar Goni, a local resident, as saying, adding, "The police were uncomfortable, so they decided to search the vehicle. While the search was going on, another SUV arrived. It was stopped for the same search.”

"There was a man and in a woman in the second car. Suddenly, there was a blast from inside the car while two policemen were trying to conduct a search," the witness noted.

Also on Friday, a bomber targeting a religious gathering in the town of Damaturu killed at least 13 worshippers who had gathered to attend the Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.  

Figures show nearly 760 have been killed since Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari took office in late May.  

President Buhari has vowed to tackle Boko Haram militancy which is currently plaguing the West African nation.

Boko Haram has intensified its attacks since Buhari came to power on May 29. The president has since made the crackdown on militants his top priority.

The militant group controls parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly bombings and attacks in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its activities in 2009. The six-year militancy has claimed more than 15,000 lives and displaced about 1.5 million people.

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