Nigeria closes capital’s schools during international conference

LAGOS, Nigeria – Security forces raided areas near the site of two bombings in Nigeria’s capital and detained eight suspects including foreigners on Saturday, the Ministry of Defense announced as the city prepared to host a three-day international conference.

All schools and government offices in Abuja, the capital, will close during the World Economic Forum on Africa that starts Wednesday, according to a presidential order that follows two bomb attacks in three weeks that killed nearly 100 people. Islamic extremists are blamed for both.

A statement Friday night said the measure “is to ease the flow of traffic” during the conference, to which hundreds of international personalities, business and African leaders are invited. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is the guest of honor.

One more victim died in the hospital, an official said, raising the toll to 20 dead from Thursday’s bombing.