‘More than 30’ killed in Gombe blast

A bomb blast at the Central Park in Cross, Gombe, Gombe state, has resulted in the death of “many people”, a senior State Security Service (SSS) official has confirmed to TheCable.

He said the blast happened at about 9:30am.

“They left the bomb inside one of the vehicles at the park”, he said.

“The blast went off at about 9:30am. Up till now, we don’t know the number of people. But it is a very busy park, so many people will die in such a bomb blast.”

He also said officials of the Nigerian army, the police (led by its commissioner) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had arrived the scene to cordon it off and begin rescue operations.

A NEMA official who spoke with TheCable from the scene of the blast said more than 30 people had died, as at the first count.

“I have counted more than 30 dead bodies, but the death toll is likely to rise,” the official said, before asking for permission to continue with rescue operations.