Death toll from Abuja mall bomb rises to 22

The National Hospital spokesman says a
victim wounded in the bomb blast at a mall in
Abuja died overnight, raising the death toll to at
least 22.
The government says soldiers shot and killed one
suspect as he tried to escape, and police detained
a second suspect.

Wednesday's explosion in Abuja is the latest in a
series of violent attacks blamed on Boko Haram
extremists. Security forces have not succeeded in
curtailing their near-daily attacks.

The extremists on Tuesday night overran a military
checkpoint in the northeast and killed at least 21
soldiers. They also took some troops hostage,
witnesses said.

Boko Haram attracted international condemnation
for the April mass abductions of more than 200
schoolgirls, and is blamed for this week's
kidnappings of another 90 people.