Boko Haram Kills Scores In Twin Attacks

Two bombs at a mosque and restaurant in the central Nigerian city of Jos have killed 44 people and wounded 67, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

Terrorist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were the latest in a series of bombings and shootings that have killed more than 200 people in the northeast during the past week alone.

The explosion at the Yantaya Mosque on Sunday came as cleric Sani Yahaya was addressing a crowd during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to survivors.

Sheikh Yahaya is from the Jama'atu Izalatul Bidia organisation, which promotes peaceful co-existence between religions. He has preached against Boko Haram for five years and has previously survived an assassination attempt at his home.

He also survived this attack.

The second bomb exploded at Shagalinku, a restaurant that regularly hosts state governors and politicians.

Jos is a central city of almost one million people, where the country's majority Muslim north and mainly Christian south collide.

It has been targeted by Boko Haram bomb blasts on a number of occasions over the past month, in attacks that have left hundreds dead.

Boko Haram took over large areas of Nigeria's northeastern region last year and, while the Nigerian army and its neighbours were able to force them out of many towns, attacks have increased in recent weeks.

Reports say this is due to a call by the so-called Islamic State, to which Boko Haram pledged their allegiance earlier this year, for more attacks during Ramadan.

The militant group returned to northeastern villages on Sunday, having attacked them three days earlier, killing nine residents and burning down 32 churches and around 300 homes, according to Stephen Apagu, who is chairman of a vigilante self-defence group.

The vigilantes fought back, killing three from Boko Haram, he added.