At least 20 Killed, 90 Wounded As Bomb Rocks Shiite Mosque In Afghanistan During Prayers

No fewer than 20 people were reportedly killed and 90 others injured in a mosque explosion during Friday prayers in Kunduz city, capital of Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province.

Asuicide bomber was said to be responsible for the blast, CNN reports. 

An official with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Sara Chare noted that some of those killed and wounded were brought to the NGO’s facility in the city of Kunduz, and that the number of dead could be higher.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid on his Twitter handle said “security forces are at the scene, and investigation is underway,” noting that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mujahid also said “a number of our compatriots were martyred and injured.”

The explosion took place around 1pm at the Sayedabad Street.

The bombing attack on the Shiite mosque inflicted serious injuries on many people.

A Kunduz resident named Hafizullah who lives near the mosque described the incident as a total disaster stating that, “All the windows of houses close to the mosque have been shattered and I see pieces of flesh on the street.”

Wall Street Journal reports that while there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Islamic State’s regional affiliate has carried out a series of attacks targeting the country’s Shiite community in recent years. 

The group, Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or ISKP has organised a series of attacks since the US withdrawal in August, targeting Taliban officials at a mosque in Kabul last Sunday.

The Taliban and ISKP both seek to implement strict Islamic rules in Afghanistan; the two groups have profound religious and political differences. 

Though the Taliban had previously persecuted Shiites when they ruled the country in the 1990s, their current government includes a member of the Hazara Shiite community as a deputy minister.

Islamic State, by contrast, views all Shiite Muslims as heretics who should be exterminated.

[Saharareporters]

JUST IN: Villagers Killed, Monarch’s Palace Razed As Angry Soldiers Raid Imo Community

At least three people have been killed while 15 houses, including the palace of the traditional ruler of Aborshi Izombe Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo, have been razed.

Witnesses blamed soldiers on reprisal for the incident.

The soldiers were said to be angered by the killing of two of their colleagues by youths of Izombe.

A witness said youths protesting the killing of a young man identified as Chukwunoso Iherue, a native of Umuokwu Izombe, Oguta LGA, was suspected to have been killed by soldiers.

In protest, they were said to have killed two soldiers.

Another source in the community told our correspondent that the soldiers and the youths were engaged in supremacy tussle over oil bunkering in the community.

The source said, “I was informed that two military men were killed and their vehicle set ablaze after the military killed one young man in Umuokwu Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo, this morning.”

“The problem arose from misunderstanding between the boys and soldiers over crude oil bunkering. Lately Izombe, Eziorsu, Osobod communities in Oguta have been notorious for bunkering operation. Civilians ad security men are all involved in the illegal business.

“The soldiers were said to have killed one Chukwunoso Iherue before the youths fought back leading to the military personnel storming the palace of HRH Eze Pius Muforo of Aborshi Izombe Community, where they were attacked.

“Latest information is that soldiers have burnt down the palace of HRH Eze Muforo and two others now in Umuokwu Izombe.

“The soldiers attacked the community in 18 Hilux vans carrying petrol and three war tanks. My cousin living next to our compound told me that her house was burnt down after which the soldiers went and burn down Chief C A Onyeukwu’s buildings.”

Spokesman of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Capt Joseph Akubo, when contacted said he had not got a clear picture of what actually happened.

He promised to get back but had not done so as at the time this report was filed.

[DAILYTRUST]

Suspected Bandits kill five MOPOL officers in Niger

Five mobile policemen have been reportedly killed in an attack by suspected gunmen on Tuesday in Pangu community of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state, 

The gunmen were also accused of burning down the Pangu primary healthcare centre and two vehicles belonging to the mobile policemen.

The gunmen according to sources from the community invaded the town on motorcycles shooting sporadically to scare people away. 

It was gathered that the gunmen began shooting the mobile policemen who tried to stop the attack and that led to the death of the security agents.

The bodies of the deceased have been taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital.

The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Sani Idris, while responding to questions from newsmen about the attack did not confirm nor deny the attack.

He said, “There have been attacks here and there” while no specific information was given on the Pangu community attack.

Also, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached to confirm the attack and death of the policemen.

[Punch]

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Lawyers, Seven Others In Ebonyi

Unknown gunmen have reportedly shot dead two police officers, two lawyers and seven others in Isu and Onicha-Igboeze communities, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

It was learnt that the cops were reportedly killed in Isu while others were killed in Onicha Igboeze during an invasion by the gunmen.

It was gathered that two lawyers who were passing with a vehicle, ran into the gunmen during the attack.

The police in Ebonyi State have confirmed the attack, although the details of the incident are still sketchy.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, has dispatched a team of policemen to the area.

[Saharareporters]