A bomb exploded in a crowded bus station in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, on Sunday, causing casualties in a region that has been frequently attacked by Islamist militants, witnesses said.
Witness Adamu Muhammad said he heard a loud blast and the people at the Damaturu’s central motor park “descended into panic.”
He said there were many casualties, though he did not know how many. The Nigerian military was not immediately available for comment. No one claimed the attack, which bore the hallmarks of Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram.
On Saturday, heavily armed Boko Haram militants attacked and attempted to overrun the northeastern Nigerian city of Gombe but were later repelled, reports Reuters.
Boko Haram’s violent uprising for an Islamic state has killed thousands, destabilized the northeast of Africa’s biggest economy and is increasingly doing the same to neighbors Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They are now fighting back in a regional effort to crush the militant group.
The insurgency has also cast doubt over the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seen as not having done enough to contain it or protect civilians, hundreds of whom have been kidnapped.
Nigeria has postponed for six weeks a presidential election that had been due to be held on February 14, citing the security threat from Boko Haram.
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Witness Adamu Muhammad said he heard a loud blast and the people at the Damaturu’s central motor park “descended into panic.”
He said there were many casualties, though he did not know how many. The Nigerian military was not immediately available for comment. No one claimed the attack, which bore the hallmarks of Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram.
On Saturday, heavily armed Boko Haram militants attacked and attempted to overrun the northeastern Nigerian city of Gombe but were later repelled, reports Reuters.
Boko Haram’s violent uprising for an Islamic state has killed thousands, destabilized the northeast of Africa’s biggest economy and is increasingly doing the same to neighbors Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They are now fighting back in a regional effort to crush the militant group.
The insurgency has also cast doubt over the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seen as not having done enough to contain it or protect civilians, hundreds of whom have been kidnapped.
Nigeria has postponed for six weeks a presidential election that had been due to be held on February 14, citing the security threat from Boko Haram.
http://ift.tt/17cuPJd
Reports reaching The Eagle Online has it that an explosion has just occurred in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
Citizen reporters who were in the area told The Eagle Online that the explosion occurred at the Motor Park Main Market in the town on Sunday.
The explosion reportedly occurred at about 12:30pm.
Several persons were said to have died from the explosion.
The market was said to be in full swing when the explosion occurred.
A source told The Eagle Online that scores were feared dead as rescuers were still evacuating dead bodies from the scene of the explosion as at the time of filing this report.
The explosion is believed to be the handiwork of dreaded sect, Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has attacked Damaturu several times in the last one year.
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