Six people, including a pregnant woman, have been killed in Damaturu, capital of Yobe state, after a “12-year-old female suicide bomber” struck at a park in the town.
A security source who confirmed the blast to TheCable said six people had been certified dead, while the number of injured was still being ascertained. But it emerged later that as many as 40 people sustained various degrees of injury and had been evacuated to hospitals in the area.
Toyin Gbadegeshin, a deputy superintendent of police and public relations officer of the Yobe state police command, confirmed the incident to NAN, saying three people were in critical condition.
He said the explosion, “involving a female suicide bomber of about 12 years of age, happened at the entrance of the Damaturu main motor park”.
Advertisement
“The girl detonated the explosive at the screening centre of the motor park gate, killing herself and four others, including a pregnant woman and a baby,” he said.
He added that a second explosive went off at at Pompomari at about the same time as the first, when a suspected male suicide bomber, sensing that he could be apprehended, ran into a nearby bush and the explosive went off, killing him alone.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, director of press to governor of the state, described the incident as “sad and unfortunate’’.
Advertisement
Tuesday’s blast is the sixth attack by suspected Boko Haram agents in Yobe state, the previous five resulting in a total of at least 88 deaths.
Add a comment
