Explosions, gunfire at south Nigeria rally kill policeman

LAGOS (Reuters) – Explosions hit an opposition political rally in southern Nigeria on Tuesday and Islamist insurgents struck in the north, with unrest spreading after a presidential election was postponed.

A police officer was killed and several people wounded when five explosions and a burst of gunfire hit an opposition rally in Okrika in southern Nigeria’s oil producing Rivers state, home town of President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife Patience.

In the north, suspected Boko Haram Islamist bombers killed at least 10 people in three blasts at a military checkpoint and a suicide bombing at a restaurant.

A presidential election due to take place last Saturday has been postponed for six weeks, raising fears of the spread of violence in a country where voting has often been accompanied by unrest.

Jonathan, a southern Christian from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is facing a challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nigeria has roughly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims, and both major parties are active in both the north and south.