From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri
At least 48 people have been killed in a bomb blast at a local market in a remote Borno State community. Source said some explosive devices which were carefully concealed in a usually crowded part of the Sabongari market, Damboa Local Government Area in the south, went off at about 1.35pm yesterday, killing at least 48 people.
A vigilance member in Damboa said more than 40 people were injured in the attack. He said the bomb was concealed inside the market, adding that the perpetrators allowed commercial activities to peak before detonating the bomb.
Some residents of Maiduguri who hailed from the area told Daily Sun that the community was thrown first into confusion and later, mourning as the casualty rose to 48 by yesterday evening.
“Almost all the families lost loved ones. The bomb attack was devastating. We learnt from our people that bodies littered the scene of the blast,” Dauda Yusuf, a Maiduguri resident told Daily Sun on phone.
He said residents of Sabongari were so shocked that they couldn’t pick the bodies from the scene in time. He said more than 40 people have, however, been taken to the hospital.
The bomb attack came two days after suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a commercial Golf car in a village near Sabongari, killing four passengers.
Ex-lawmaker, 2 others killed
From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Three persons including a former lawmaker, Douglas Begha, were on Monday feared killed and two others have been injured in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State when gunmen stormed the community.
Crime Watch Today gathered that Begha was in his Kendev Village home on kilometer 3, Zaki-Biam when the gunmen invaded his house and shot him. He was said to have died on the spot.
Confirming the report, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (DPPRO), Mr. Matthew Oku, said at about 8pm, police received information that three armed men operating on a motorcycle invaded the house of Hon. Begha at Kendev Village, shot and killed him on the spot.
Oku said Begha’s son, was also injured during the attack even as the gunmen while escaping from the premises, shot and killed a motorcyclist. He said aside the 12-year-old Begha’s son, the cyclist passenger was also injured.
The bodies have been deposited at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Zaki-Biam while the two injured persons are responding to treatment.”
The DPPRO who confirmed only two deaths in the attack, said the Commissioner of Police, Dibal Yakadi, is aware. He said investigation was in progress as detectives had already been dispatched to the area.
He said that no arrest has been made at Press time, but assured that the police will arrest the culprits.
In the last few months, the Benue North-East had been under sever attack by yet to be identified gunmen who had killed several persons including the political god-father of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, Chief Atoza Ihindan.
Only last week, eight persons were killed and others injured in Zaki Biam by gunmen who were riding on a motorcycle.
Sun
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