Death toll from Nigerian mall explosion rises to 22

ABOVE: Forensic experts were gathering evidence on Friday at the site of Wednesday’s blast at a shopping mall in the Nigerian capital, Abuja

ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Hospital spokesman says a victim wounded in the bomb blast at a mall in Nigeria’s capital died overnight, raising the death toll to at least 22.

The government says soldiers shot and killed one suspect as he tried to escape, and police detained a second suspect.

READ MORE: Explosion rocks shopping mall in Nigerian capital, 21 dead

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Wednesday’s explosion in Abuja is the latest in a series of violent attacks blamed on Boko Haram Islamic extremists. Nigerian security forces have not succeeded in curtailing their near-daily attacks.

The extremists on Tuesday night overran a military checkpoint in the northeast and killed at least 21 soldiers. They also took some troops hostage, witnesses said.

Boko Haram attracted international condemnation for the April mass abductions of more than 200 schoolgirls, and is blamed for this week’s kidnappings of another 90 people.