Car bomb attack at Nigerian president’s rally in Gombe

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/02/car-bomb-nigerian-president-rally-gombe

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A car bomb has exploded near a stadium in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Gombe, a few minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan left a party rally there, killing one person and wounding 18.

A photographer said the bomb exploded about 200 metres from the stadium, engulfing the car in flames, while residents fled in panic.

A hospital source said one body had been brought in and 18 people were being treated for wounds, some of them serious. A female suicide bomber was the only fatality, police said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although suspicion is likely to fall on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has attacked Gombe several times. The attack on Monday comes a day after a suicide bombing near a mosque in the market area there killed five people and wounded eight.

Nigeria is due to hold a presidential election on 14 February, pitting the ruling People’s Democratic party’s Jonathan against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari for the opposition All Progressives Congress.

Both candidates are wrapping up their campaigns for what is expected to be the most closely fought election since the end of military rule in 1999.