Death Toll In Taraba Bomb Blast Rises To Six As ISWAP Takes Responsibility

• ISWAP has become the dominant threat in the northeast since the death in May 2021 of Abubakar Shekau, the former leader of rival group Boko Haram

• More than 40,000 people have died and around two million have fled their homes since the insurgency began in 2009

EKO HOT BLOG reports that six persons have been confirmed dead with an unspecified number injured following a bomb explosion that rocked a drinking bar in Mashaya market, Iware Community located in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The blast occurred on Tuesday.

The Anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police Force were on ground combing the area for a possible bomb detonation.

Meanwhile jihadists affiliated to the Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement released in Arabic on Wednesday, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) said it had detonated the bomb, “killing and wounding nearly 30 Christians and damaging the bar.”

The statement, translated by SITE Intelligence which monitors jihadist activities worldwide, said the attack was “revenge” for the death of two of the group’s leaders, without giving further details.

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The blast occurred in a crowded open-air moonshine bar in the town of Iware.

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