Boko haram blamed for deadly blast in Nigeria

17 February 2015 Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state A suspected Boko Haram bomb attack at a military checkpoint in Nigeria has killed 20 civilians, reports say. Local militia fighters returned fire at the militants at the checkpoint near Biu, killing 17, one of the fighters told the AP news agency. The latest attack comes after elections in Nigeria were postponed until March over security concerns. In a separate incident, a suicide bomber killed four at a restaurant near another military checkpoint. Witnesses said the bomber blew himself up inside Al-Amir restaurant in Potiskum. Authorities believe Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram was behind the attack in Biu, regional senator Muhammed Ali Ndume told the BBC. "Most of the victims were child vendors and beggars that usually crowd the checkpoint to sell wares and beg for alms," a hospital worker told AFP news agency. The town was targeted by the group five days ago, when a woman blew herself up at a crowded market killing at least six people. Rally attacked In yet another bloody day for Nigeria, another attack at an opposition rally in the south of the country killed one police officer and injured four others, while a reporter covering the event was stabbed, according to AFP. The attack targeted a rally by the All Progressives Congress (APC) - Nigeria's main opposition - in Okrika, a small port town south of Port Harcourt in the heart of Nigeria's oil-producing region. APC members were waiting for the rally to begin, witnesses said, when there was several explosions and gunfire. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack. Boko Haram is not known to operate in the region. There are fears that Nigeria is becoming increasingly unstable ahead of its delayed general election, pushed back from 14 February to 28 March after the military requested more time to curb the insurgency in the north-east. The Nigerian Human Rights Commission says at least 58 people have been killed in pre-election violence. The military has been struggling to regain territory from the militants The six-year conflict in Nigeria has killed thousands of people and has displaced more than three million, officials say. President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election, has been strongly criticised for his handling of the Islamist insurgency. He is facing a strong challenge from opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler. Nigeria's electoral commission said on Tuesday it had distributed 75% of voter cards to its 68.8 million voters and said it was on track to reach 100% by the delayed election date. BBC NEWS