Nigeria: At least six dead, over 20 injured as suicide bombers strike in Yobe

At least eight persons have so far been confirmed killed in two separate suicide bomb attacks in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

Over 20 others are injured, officials and witnesses said.

One of the suicide attacks was at the entrance of the town’s major bus station.

Sources in Damaturu said the first bomb blast was heard echoing in from the Pompomari axis of the city as a male suicide bomber, said to be in his mid 20s, suddenly exploded on the street.

No one was affected, except himself.

Shortly after the Pompomari bombing, another one occurred at the Damaturu Motor Park.

According to witnesses the bomber was a female who was attempting to enter the park, but only got her device detonated at the gate.

A vehicle conveying passengers and coming out of the park was affected. Four persons in the vehicle were killed instantly.

Security personnel cordoned off the area shortly after the explosion, witnesses said.

A hospital source, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said “five bodies were brought in from the scene of the blast; that is if you add the remains of the female suicide bomber. “But two later gave up while receiving treatment at the accident and emergency ward”.

Damaturu park has suffered similar attacks in the past months.

PRNigeria, an agency that distributes press statements for Nigerian security agencies, quoted a Yobe state spokesperson as confirming the incident and the casualty figure.

The agency quoted the Director of Media and Publicity to Yobe State Governor, Abdullahi Bego, as saying the dead had been evacuated to mortuary while the injured victims were being attended to by health and emergency workers.

PT