Many people have died, injured after the explosion of bombs in Nigeria: officials – Nationwide
Bombs exploded in at least three places in northeastern Borno state on Monday night, killing and injuring scores of people, emergency officials told the Associated Press, citing incidents of suicide bombings.
An explosion was heard in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, where the Nigerian-born Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency for more than a decade.
The explosion occurred at the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two local markets, known as the Post Office and the Monday Market, according to Sirajo Abdullahi, the head of operations at the Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, in Maiduguri.
“There are injured and they are still taking the injured to the hospital,” said Abdullah. “We won’t be able to give a real figure until we count.”
No team has yet laid claim to the bombings.
The Nigerian Army said in an earlier statement that it had rejected an attack by suspected Islamist militants in the early hours of Monday on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
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For years, Nigeria has been facing a security crisis from various armed groups, especially in the northern part of the country.
Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and one of its offshoots, have been blamed for a spate of attacks targeting Nigerian military bases in the north-east of the country this month. But attacks in Maiduguri in Borno state, at the heart of Nigeria’s 17-year struggle with armed groups, have been rare in recent post-war years.
Bagoni Alkali, who witnessed the explosion, told The Associated Press that he brought the injured to the hospital for emergency treatment.
“Right now, more than 200 people are injured and receiving help from the accident and emergency department,” said Alkali.
“Although I could tell you that so many people died, to be honest, many lost their lives at the scene immediately after the bomb exploded. It is disappointing,” he added.
Mohammed Hassan, a member of a volunteer group that often helps the security forces in the fight against armed extremists, said he removed 10 bodies from the Post Office and Monday Markets.
“Many victims were rushed to the emergency ward, but some died in the hospital. We need blood badly,” he said. “This attack was one of the deadliest in Maiduguri in years.”
Borno Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said in a statement on Monday that he condemned the explosion.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died and those who were injured as a result of this incident. This action is highly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” said Zulu.
He urged residents to calm down, continue with their normal activities and report any suspicious activity to the security agencies.
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