The bomb blast that killed more than 20 people in the Nigerian capital of Abuja today was the third violent attack on civilians in the country this week.
While the explosion seemed to have been timed to Nigeria’s World Cup match against Argentina, the Boko Haram terrorist group that is presumed responsible has been attacking citizens regularly since before the Cup began; earlier this week more than 90 women and children were kidnapped and at least eight people were killed at a medical school in separate incidents.
And while Nigerian security forces claim they have managed to isolate the crisis to three states in the northeastern part of the country, attacks within and around the capital in past months would seem to indicate otherwise.
Today’s attack targeted the popular Banex plaza shopping complex at 4 p.m. local time.
