Blasts ‘kill 50’ at Eid praying ground

Fifty worshippers were killed when bombs went off at the Eid praying ground in Damaturu, Yobe state, on Friday morning.

According to Sani Usman, acting-director, army public relations, the explosions occurred at screening areas of the praying ground.

Usman said many people also sustained injuries in the incident suspected to have been masterminded by insurgents.

“This is to confirm that there were two suicide bomb explosions today at about 7:40 a.m. in Damaturu, Yobe, in which two female suicide bombers — one elderly woman and a ten year-old girl –detonated the devices,” he said in a statement.

“It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.”

He said 43 persons died in the first explosion, while the second blast claimed seven people.

Muhammad Adamu, a businessman, who was at the praying area when the incident happened, said he saw five bodies.

“I was sitting down when I heard two bomb blasts. I saw the bodies of five people and many were injured,” he told Reuters.

Another witness, Muslim preacher Ustaz Abdullahi, said he saw five people killed.

The explosions happened less than 24 hours when bombers killed at least 30 persons in Gombe market.