A bomb explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning, at the busy Monday Market close to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) building in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, has left at least 10 people dead with 27 others severely injured.
According to SaharaReporters, the bomb exploded at about 8.20am within the market premises, which is usually crowded commercial centre.
Following the huge security presence at the scene, number of casualties could not be ascertained as at press time, but Emergency officials are said to be on their way to the explosion scene.
A source who was involved in the evacuation of the corpses and rescuing of the injured victims, confirmed that the explosion occurred at about 8.30am when people have started coming to the market.
However, one of the state government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the blast and revealed that the number of casualties were very high. He said that security operatives were on ground, trying to rescue some of the victims as well as to secure the area.
A security source, who spoke to a journalist said: “After we heard the loud bang, we immediately moved into the area and found 10 people dead and the 27 persons who were in pains from injuries we took to both University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the State Specialists Hospital.”
More to follow…
Although the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram who crave to create an Islamic state, is yet to claim responsibility for this attack, it is however, generally believed that the deadly sect is responsible. On Monday July 30, the Director of Defence Information Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, announced the arrest of a busimessman Babuji Ya’ari, a suspected leader of the group. The Islamist is also believed to concentrate more on the north-eastern part of the country because that is its stronghold.
The sect was responsible for the abduction of over 234 female students from Chibok, as well as the murder of Emir of Gwoza. On Sunday June 29, 2014, the sect in a morning raid killed at least 56 people and burned down several houses during a deadly attack in Kautikari, Kwada and Nguragila villages near Chibok, Borno State.
In a bid to check their activities, on 14 May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno State, along with it’s neighboring Adamawa and Yobe State.