Suicide Blast at Nigerian World Cup Viewing Party Kills 14

In yet another act of violence against the public World Cup viewing in Nigeria, a deadly explosion occurred outside of a viewing party Tuesday night, leaving 14 dead and another 26 injured.

The bombing is suspected of having ties with the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram, and is only the latest in a number of violent attacks and threats of violence in the area.

World Cup viewing parties have been outlawed due to the threats from Boko Haram, but in an area where soccer is viewed as extremely important, enforcing the bans is exceedingly difficult. 

There are conflicting accounts of where the source of the bomb was located, despite reports to the contrary. Witnesses of the attack state that it came from a tricycle taxi-driver who propelled the bike packed with explosives towards the front of the building, while Police Assistant Superintendent Nathan Cheghan says that bomb was placed in an abandoned car that was parked out front.  

Musa Mohamed was wounded by the blast and recounted his story to Fox News. "I stopped at the viewing center to buy a recharge card and suddenly the blast went off. It was just like a flash of light and many people were killed. Some were amputated ... But thank God mine was a lesser injury."

In early June, Boko Haram targeted a soccer stadium in the Adamawa province, where more than 40 people died as a result of the bombing in the post-game minutes, and both women and children were included in the attack. 

World Cup viewing parties have been the targets of numerous terrorist attacks throughout Africa. In 2010, the Somali extremist group, Al-Shaba, killed 74 people during a Ugandan World Cup viewing party. Islamic extremist groups wish to establish Islamic states all over Africa.

Even with the recent attacks, the Nigerian government does not appear to be making terrorism a priority. On Tuesday, 500 suspects of an alleged terror ring were detained by Nigerian forces while traveling in a convoy of over 30 trucks. The suspects claim that they were traveling to the Northeastern part of Nigeria in search of work.

Boko Haram has increased its terror presence in the past year killing more than 2,000 people, which is up from 3,600 people in the previous four years.

Nigeria also made headlines recently for another Boko Haram attack, in which 250 girls were kidnapped. Boko Haram said it would release the girls in a prisoner trade, but so far the Nigerian government has refused.

In order to counterattack the frequent acts of terror, Nigeria has turned its northern provinces into military states. The attempts so have been ineffective due to corruption and poor military resources.