This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27493940
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Nigerian city of Jos rocked by twin blasts | Nigerian city of Jos rocked by twin blasts |
(35 minutes later) | |
Heavy casualties are feared following two loud explosions near a crowded market in the volatile central Nigerian city of Jos. | |
The BBC's Ishaq Khalid, in neighbouring Bauchi, says the market was very crowded at the time. | |
The cause of the blasts has not been confirmed. Jos has seen several deadly clashes between Christian and Muslim groups in recent years. | |
Islamist group Boko Haram has also previously targeted the area. | Islamist group Boko Haram has also previously targeted the area. |
A suicide attack in the northern city of Kano on Monday killed four people. | |
Abducted girls | |
A regional official confirmed there had been two blasts in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, but told Agence France-Presse news agency that he did not have any casualty figures yet. | |
A military spokesman told AFP one bomb had been placed in a truck and another in a minibus, but this has not been independently confirmed. | |
Plateau state lies on the fault-line which divides Nigeria's largely Muslim north from its mainly Christian south. | |
The state has been dogged by violence blamed on land disputes between semi-nomadic Muslim Fulani herdsmen and mainly Christian Berom farmers. | |
The Nigerian government is also currently trying to trace more than 200 girls captured by Boko Haram in April from a boarding school in the north-eastern town of Chibok. | |
The case has shocked the world and prompted foreign powers to send military advisers to assist Nigeria's army tackle the insurgency. | |
On Tuesday, parliament approved a six-month extension of a state of emergency in three north-eastern states - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. | |
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram attacks this year but the government says it has pushed the militants back into their strongholds in Borno. | |
Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. | |
Nigeria's violence is not confined to the north. | |
Earlier this month a car bomb in the capital Abuja killed at least 19 people and injured 60 more. | |
The explosion happened close to a bus station where at least 70 people died in a bomb blast on 14 April. | |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosions? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Jos'. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosions? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Jos'. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |