UPDATED: Death toll rises in Jos explosions

The death toll in Tuesday’s blasts in Jos has hit 118 as the body count continues to increase.

“We’ve now recovered 118 bodies from the rubble,” Mohammed Abdulsalam, coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said.

“This could rise by morning, as there is still some rubble we haven’t yet shifted,” he added.

Plateau State commissioner of police Chris Olakpe had on Tuesday confirmed 45 persons dead and 46 injured after the blasts.

However, on Wednesday, Olakpe told NAN that the death toll is 75.

“I have directed the police medical officer to go round the hospitals and that is the figure he has confirmed so far,” he said at the scene of the explosions.

He said that 44 bodies were at the Plateau Specialists Hospital, 25 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while the rest were deposited at the Bingham University and Yellow hospitals.

Olakpe added, however, that the figures could rise as the security agencies had intensified the search for more casualties around the vicinities of the Terminus Market.

He said that no one would be allowed around the market area as it had been cordoned off.

“I have asked my personnel to chase away anyone found around the vicinities because anti-bomb experts are combing everywhere.

“It is after such exercise that we shall decide whether it was safe to visit the market,” he said.

Earlier, journalists said they had counted more than 40 dead bodies at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

More bodies were still being brought in at the time of reporting.

There were two explosions around the Terminus Market, a location that is predictably crowded.

The devices were reportedly loaded in a lorry and a minibus.

One went off near the market and the other close to JUTH.

A Jos resident told TheCable that the first explosion went off at exactly 2:55pm, while another one occurred minutes later, as journalists and security agents were trying to access the area.

He also confirmed that security agents have already cordoned off the scene of the incident, while traffic in town, from as far as Gadadiyu, is now heavy as a result.

Jos has witnessed a series of blasts in the past.

The latest blast occurred less than two days after five persons were killed in another attack in Kano, Kano State.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosions, but Boko Haram will be regarded as prime suspects.