The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of 50 persons in two separate bomb explosions in Damaturu, Yobe, on Friday morning.
A statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the acting-director of army public relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the explosions occurred at screening areas of the Eid prayer ground.
According him, many other persons were injured in the explosions suspected to have been masterminded by Boko Haram insurgents.
The attacks came on the day newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai, was due to visit Damaturu to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with soldiers battling the jihadists, who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group that has seized swathes of Iraq and Syria
“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 10 year-old girl -detonated the devices,” Col Usman said. “It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshipers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.”
He said 43 persons died in the first explosion while seven people died in the second explosion.
The army spokesperson assured the public that the relevant authorities had brought the situation under control.
He assured that no amount of terrorist act would deter the Nigerian Army’s resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.
Usman said Gov. Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Buratai had called on the residents of the area to stay calm and be security conscious.
“I was sitting down when I heard two bomb blasts. I saw the bodies of five people and many were injured,” said Muhammad Adamu, a businessman who was at the praying area, beside the main road leading to the centre of the city when the blasts happened.
