Violence in Nigeria

Two bombs were detonated in the central Nigerian city of Jos on May 20, killing at least 118 people and injuring 56. The first bomb went off in a market and the second, 30 minutes later, at a nearby hospital, killing rescue workers who had arrived at the scene. The militant group Boko Haram is believed to be responsible.

On May 21, Boko Haram fighters attacked the northeastern villages of Shawa and Alagarno, killing 27 people and burning buildings.

Boko Haram has increased its activity in Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 people since the beginning of the year. In April the group kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in the north, instigating international efforts to find them.

Because of the Nigerian government’s state-of-emergency proclamation for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in May 2013, the US Department of State has warned against all travel to those states and recommends extreme caution in a number of other states.