This attack happened after three bomb attacks Kogi State near Abuja, in in north central Nigeria, and a bomb attack in Taraba state in the north-east. The government says the attacks bear the hallmarks of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) – a group that splintered off of local Islamist rebel group Boko Haram – raising doubts about President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ending the crisis and whether the legacy he leaves behind will hurt the governing party’s chances in the 2023 national elections. Buhari rode into power in 2015 as a retired general on a wave of goodwill after promising to crush Boko Haram and deliver long-sought-after peace to millions in Africa’s most populous country.
On 9 June, the Nigerian government said it has “been able to see the footprint of ISWAP” in the “horrendous” attack, confirming earlier fears that the extremists may be gaining ground
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