At least 14 people were killed and 74 injured in a suicide bomb attack at a crowded market in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, Saturday.

The incident came hours after at least 10 villagers were murdered in northeast Nigeria when a large commando of Boko Haram Islamic extremists attacked their settlement and took over a major highway in the region.

No group has claimed responsibility for the Chad attack, but authorities have blamed the Nigeria-based militants for a series of bombings and shootings in the central African country in recent weeks.

“Our current count is 15 dead,” police spokesman Paul Manga, said. The total includes the suicide bomber – a man dressed in a woman’s burqa.

Chad authorities banned the head-to-toe religious garment last month, citing the risk that attackers could use it as a disguise or hide explosives

underneath.

The bomber attempted to enter the market, then detonated his bomb when military police tried to stop him, Manga said.

Nigeria attack

In the Nigeria attack, a local police official who spoke on condition he not be named said the victims were all shot when the group of Boko Haram extremists stormed their village and fired at fleeing residents.

The attack occurred in Ngamdu, 100 kilometers west of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

 

Many other residents were wounded in the attack Friday, the official said.

A second bombing in Nigeria occurred early Saturday when a three-wheeled vehicle driving at a high speed exploded near a security office in Maiduguri, killing its four passengers.

Maiduguri is Boko Haram’s birthplace.

The attacks underlined the threat still posed by the Islamist militants, despite claimed military successes in recent months and with a new regional force set to take on the group at the end of the month.

Boko Haram this year became the West African franchise of the Islamic State group, which has called for more attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.
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