Bomb Blasts Rock Nigeria Weeks Before Presidential Election

Bomb blasts rocked northeastern Nigeria as the country creeps closer to elections surrounded by uncertainty.

Al Jazeera reports that the attack took place in the village of Biu, which is regularly the site of conflicts between the Nigerian military and Boko Haram. The attack was in the form of three coordinated bomb blasts at a military checkpoint. Although the attack claimed 36 lives, the military was able to respond to the assault and killed 17 Boko Haram fighters. At least six people are known to have been injured as well.

In addition to the attack in Biu, it is believed Boko Haram may be responsible for an attack on an election rally in the Rivers State. Explosions and gunfire killed one police officer and injured several bystanders. In the chaos that ensued after the attack, a journalist was stabbed.

The presidential election for which the rally was being held has been postponed for six weeks. The election was originally scheduled for Feb. 14. Insecurity throughout Nigeria, particularly in the northeast, which Boko Haram calls home, led to the election being rescheduled for March 28.

The election will see the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan face off against a former military dictator named Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan's record of fiscal incompetence and insecurity, and Buhari's history of dictatorship have made this election a choice between the lesser of two evils for most Nigerians.

The election rally that was bombed in Rivers state was being held for an opposition political party, although the city where the attack took place is the hometown of the Jonathan's wife. This fact means that the election rally attack may have been carried out by a group other than Boko Haram, such as one of Nigeria's numerous political parties.

Security authorities have not yet announced who they think was behind the rally attack.