The
authorities of the Nigerian Army have confirmed that 50 people lost
their lives in two bomb explosions that rocked Damaturu, the Yobe State
capital, on Friday.
The Acting
Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement
on Friday that 43 persons died in the first explosion which occurred at
7.40am and seven others in the second explosion.
Several other people were also said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries from the two explosions.
It was
learnt a teenage girl and an elderly woman carried out the two attacks
at the screening area for the Eid prayers in Damaturu.
The
explosions occurred while the screening of intending worshippers for
the early morning prayers was taking place at Layin Geange and ‘Phase 1 ‘
in front of the former Yobe State Secretariat, in Damaturu.
Usman said the situation was under control.
One of the
residents, Musa Yusuf, who also spoke to our correspondent on the
telephone, said, “There is apprehension in Damaturu as I am talking to
you. We are celebrating Sallah in fear with these explosions this
morning.
“It is hard to ascertain the number of casualties now but the military and policemen are everywhere keeping watch in the town.”
Usman, who
urged citizens to be calm and vigilant, said the Acting Chief of Army
Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim
Geidam, sympathised with the families of the victims of the unfortunate
incidents.
He said,
“The situation is under control. Both Yobe State Governor and the Chief
of Army Staff sympathise with and urged the people to stay calm and be
security conscious.
“No amount of terrorist act will deter our resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.”
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