MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: A blast in Nigeria's eastern town of Jalingo killed seven people and seriously wounded 12, a witness told Reuters, a day after two attacks killed at least 19 in other parts of the country.

“I saw the blast happen. It was apparently targeted at the commissioner of police who was passing the vicinity,” Ben Adaji, an editor of a local magazine, said by telephone.

“The motorcycle outrider on the commissioner's convoy is among the seven people I saw dead.” Jalingo is the capital of Taraba state, which borders Cameroon and is usually peaceful.