2 suicide bombers hit Maiduguri market; ...scores killed

Two female suicide bombers Tuesday hit the vicinity of the busy Maiduguri market killing scores of traders and injuring several people in the troubled Borno State capital, residents said.

One of the blasts, according to witnesses, occurred along the Baban-Layi of the main market around 11.30AM when daily commercial activities had begun.

Security sources, who pleaded anonymity, told Channels Television that the market bomb was detonated by a female suicide bomber at the northern flank of the market, while the one on Baban Layi went off immediately after another suicide bomber blew himself up in an unmarked pickup van five minutes after.

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, who confirmed the incident expressed sadness over the incident, but could not give an exact casualty figure.

“I cannot give you the exact number of casualties right now, as I am heading towards the blast scenes, but the reports I’m receiving right now as I speak indicates that several people were killed and injured in the sad and unfortunate blast,” said Adoda.

The blast scenes, according to him, have already been condoned off by military and police to prevent any further attacks.

However, authorities of Specialist Hospital Maiduguri confirmed that more injured persons are being brought to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital for medical attention as several dead bodies have been deposited at the morgue of the hospital.

“We cannot confirm to you the casualty figure because we are still receiving dead bodies, as the Hilux patrol vehicles of police and military are still bringing in both killed and injured victims” revealed a hospital official.