Explosion in northern Togo kills seven children

Seven people have been killed and two injured in an explosion in northern Togo on Saturday night. The victims are aged 14 to 18.

The explosion happened in the village of Margba, in the northern Savanes region. Due to rising insecurity, and the threat of islamist attacks, Togo declared a state of emergency there last month.

It is reported that the teenagers were returning home from Eid celebrations when they were killed.

In May this year, an attack in the region killed eight soldiers. It is believed this was the first Islamist violence in Togo due to spillover from neighbouring Burkina Faso, where al-Qaeda and IS-affiliated groups stage frequent attacks. Togo has troops deployed in the north to try to contain the islamist threat coming south from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Army chief Dadja Maganawe said an investigation has been opened to clarify the circumstances of the explosion and identify the perpetrators.

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