About 30 persons have been reported killed in a twin market blast in Maiduguri on Tuesday, as two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in the crowded market.
The market bomb was detonated by a female suicide bomber at the northern flank of the market, while the one on Baban Layi went off immediately after another suicide bomber blew himself up in an unmarked pickup van five minutes after, reports Channels TV, quoting an anonymous security source.
Borno state coordinator of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Abba Aji Kalli told Associated Press that the suicide bombers were two teenage girls dressed in full hijab. He said only three people were killed in the first explosion. Others were killed while they gathered around the scene of the first explosion.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda also confirmed the incident. He however said he could not confirm the number of casualties just yet.
“I cannot give you the exact number of casualties right now, as I am heading towards the blast scenes, but the reports I’m receiving right now as I speak indicates that several people were killed and injured in the sad and unfortunate blast,” said Adoda.
He noted that the army and policemen have already cordoned off the blast scenes.
Injured persons are reportedly being taken to the Specialist Hospital Maiduguri.
Authorities of the hospital told Channels Television that more injured persons were still being brought in, and therefore it will be add to talk about casualties. Several corpses have however been deposited at the morgue, the hospital said
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