’24 killed’ as suicide bombers hit Adamawa mosque (updated)

At least 24 people were killed in suicide attacks at a mosque and a market in Mubi, a town in Adamawa state.

Othman Abubakar, spokesman of the police in the state, confirmed the casualty rate.

An official of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Mubi had earlier told TheCable about the attacks.

He said the the town recorded two attacks within 10 minutes.

“The first attack happened in a mosque around 1:30pm. People were heading to the mosque for prayers when the suicide bomber struck,” said the official who preferred to be anonymous.

“The second one happened at a market where second-hand items are sold. These attacks happened within 10 minutes.”

The official added that security personnel had cordoned off the scenes of the attack.

NAN quoted a resident of Mubi as saying: “The blasts occurred at the Gwonjo market and a mosque about 20 meters away.”

Confirming the incident, Musa Bello, chairman of Mubi north local government, said the blasts occurred around 1:30 pm.

“All I can tell you for now is that I am on my way to the scene to help in evacuation of casualties. Nobody can tell you the number of dead and injured for now,” NAN quoted him as saying.

Haruna Furo, executive secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Agency, also confirmed the blast but said there was no details for now.

In November, an attack on a mosque in the town left 50 people dead.