Nine people killed in minibus explosion in Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Nine people riding a commercial minibus in northern Nigeria were killed in an explosion on Tuesday morning -- the latest in a series of bombings in Maiduguri, the capital of the state of Borno.

The explosion occurred shortly after the minibus hit the Gubio highway, north of Maiduguri, near a military checkpoint, around 10:30 a.m., state police spokesman Victor Izuku told journalists.

"According to a preliminary report, a pickup van with nine persons on board emerged from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town when it exploded, killing four of those on board," Isuku said.

Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group that has engaged in suicide bombings, murder and kidnappings to establish dominance and an Islamic caliphate in the Lake Chad Basin, which includes northern Nigeria, and also parts of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Local army commander Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu assured residents of their safety.

Last Saturday, two bomb attacks carried out by women killed eight and wounded 24 at a gas station and refugee camp in Maiduguri.

On Sunday, a suicide bomber was also killed by the military while attempting to scale the perimeter fence of the refugee camp.