Blast Rocks Gombe State after President’s Campaign Rally

A blast struck a stadium in the north eastern Nigerian town of Gombe where President Goodluck Jonathan campaigned earlier on today.
The explosion occurred after Jonathan and his staff left the town, spokesman Mike Omeri told reporters in Abuja.
Three people, including the female suicide bomber who detonated the explosives, died in the blast, Samaila Garba, a worker at Gombe General Hospital, said by phone. At least 18 were injured, Garba said. Omeri earlier said casualty figures were being ascertained.
In a presidential vote set for Feb. 14, Jonathan, 57, is facing a tight race against his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, 72. Both have 42 percent support among likely voters, according to an Afrobarometer poll released Jan. 27.
The International Criminal Court said Monday it will send a team to Nigeria to discourage political violence.