Al-Shabab, an armed group based in Somalia and fighting to topple the Western-backed Somali government, claimed responsibility for the attack. It will be recalled that the armed group has carried out several attacks in neighbouring countries, including Kenya, since the government of Kenya launched a military operation inside Somalia in 2011. They also hijacked a bus and attacked the Garissa University College in Kenya, killing over 160 persons in both incidents. Thus, the relative success of the attack demonstrates that al-Shabab still has capacity to carry out spectacular acts of bloodshed in the country. Al-Shabab has been linked to the training of Boko Haram.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 31, 2019 02:37 UTC