Boko Haram: Car bomb kills 2 at checkpoint, 3 injured

*Bombing occurred outside of Damaturu in Yobe

On a day President Muhammadu Buhari met with US leader, Barack Obama on how to overcome the deadly Boko Haram insurgency, north east of Nigeria, at least two persons were killed by a car suicide bomb at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Damaturu, capital of Yobe state.

The checkpoint is on a major highway that connects the city with Borno state capital Maiduguri. The road and villages along it are frequently hit by bombs or raids by suspected members of Islamist jihadi group Boko Haram.

“We were stopped by the army at a checkpoint. There was an SUV (sports utility vehicle) about five cars away from us. I believe two people were in that car … One came out and suddenly there was a loud sound and smoke filled the air,” Ahmed Mohammed, who was driving towards Damaturu from Maiduguri, said.

A hospital source said they had received two bodies and were treating three people for injuries.

On Thursday, at least 50 people were killed in Damaturu by two female suicide bombers as worshippers gathered to mark the Muslim holiday Eid el-Fitr.

Fifty people were killed by bombs on Friday in another northeastern city, Gombe.