A bomb blast and gunfire shook an area around an Islamic boarding school in northern Nigeria on Sunday, leaving two of the alleged attackers dead and at least three others wounded, officials said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast in the city of Zaria, but Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has been blamed for hundreds of deaths as part of its insurgency in northern and central Nigeria. The boarding school is run by prominent Salafist cleric Awwal Adam Albani, known for outspoken criticism of Boko Haram. He was also arrested last year over a bombing and arms possession, but later released for lack of evidence.
A number of buildings in the area were damaged in the blast and, according to a rescue worker at the scene, other unexploded homemade bombs were located. The school building sustained damage, including broken windows.
The violence occurred in the hometown of Vice President Namadi Sambo and came a day ahead of commemorations marking 52 years of Nigerian independence, but there was no sign of a link.
The rescue worker at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security officers initially moved into the area on Thursday after receiving information that a Boko Haram hideout was located in the neighbourhood.
There was an exchange of fire on Saturday night between gunmen and security forces in the same neighbourhood, another relief official said on condition of anonymity.
According to the worker at the scene, security forces were searching the area on Sunday when the explosion occurred, adding that funfire had broken out before and after the blast.
There was a report that the attackers had warned students at the boarding school to evacuate ahead of the blast, said National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Yushau Shuaib.
The complex includes the school as well as a mosque. A relief official said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.
Witnesses said it appeared the blast had gone off inside a house close to the school, destroying the building.
“Two suspects were killed,” Shuaib said. “The innocent victims that were injured were taken to hospital.”
The two suspects were shot by security forces, according to Shuaib. The rescue worker said at least three people were wounded.
Nigeria’s north has been hit by scores of bombings and shootings attributed to Boko Haram, whose insurgency is blamed for more than 1,400 deaths since 2010. A string of attacks have also hit the country’s centre.
In June, two churches were attacked in Zaria and one in the city of Kaduna, both cities located in Kaduna state.
The church attacks left at least 16 people dead and sparked reprisals by Christian mobs who burned mosques and targeted Muslims, killing dozens. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Muslims have often been Boko Haram’s targets, though recent attacks on churches have prompted President Goodluck Jonathan to accuse the group of seeking to incite a religious crisis.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.
Boko Haram has claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in Nigeria’s north, though its demands have repeatedly shifted.
It is believed to have a number of factions with varying aims, in addition to imitators and criminal gangs who carry out violence under the guise of the group.
Albani and Boko Haram have been at odds in the past over a number of issues, including over the group’s teachings against Western education.