Islamist attacks kill at least 74 in Nigeria's north

At least 74 people have been killed in three weekend attacks in Nigeria's restive north-east, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives since 2009, police and residents said Sunday. French President Francois Hollande, who paid a two-day visit to Nigeria last week, issued a statement condemning "the terrorist attacks with the greatest possible rigour".
The last two weeks have been particularly bloody in Africa's most populous country, with nearly 250 people killed in attacks blamed on Boko Haram before the three weekend attacks.
On Saturday, two blasts in a crowded district of the hotbed city of Maiduguri left at least 35 dead, while another 39 were killed in the nearby village of Mainok by gunmen believed to be Boko Haram fighters. "We are still counting. So far we have counted 35 bodies. Our men are still working with rescue workers at the scene," Borno state police commissioner Lawal Tanko told AFP of the explosions in the Gomari area of the city. Witnesses said the final death toll could rise and as many as 50 people may have been killed and dozens of homes razed in the blasts. One area resident who did not want to be named said soldiers, police and volunteers took 50 bodies to a local hospital. "The bodies included men, women and children. There is so much panic in the area, which is mostly deserted. Most people have fled their homes," he added.
A Red Cross volunteer who did not want to be named said he had "succeeded in evacuating 51 dead bodies" after working all night. "Children are most affected," he said, adding that nearly 60 people were injured. Hassan Ali, a leader of a vigilante group in Gomari, said many people remained buried under rubble. He said many food vendors and children hawking in front of a cinema hall in the area were killed while more than 20 houses and shops were destroyed.
Mallam Mohammed Buba, a witness, said the blast happened when most residents were preparing for evening prayer. "Only a few people were injured by the first blast but while people were trying to rescue the victims of the first blast the second one took place, killing many people," he added.