A bomb blast in the Savanes region, north of Togo, has killed seven children. The explosion was reported to have been from an improvised explosive device in Natigou, Togo.
Residents were woken by the shocking noise from the explosion. “An investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances of this explosion and identify the perpetrators,” the army said, in a statement on Sunday.
Terrorists linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda have attacked numerous targets in a string of countries in the region.
Natigou is 20 km northeast of Dapaong, the regional capital of Togo’s northernmost Savanes region.
“The ambulance came early this morning to carry seven corpses and two injured”, the relative of a victim was quoted by local radio, Radio Motaog as saying.
The Togolese army has been on high alert following the country’s first deadly militant attack in May, when eight soldiers were killed near the border with Burkina Faso.
Last month, Togo declared a state of emergency in its northern region following incessant attack by insurgents.