BREAKING: Scores killed as twin explosions rock Muslim praying ground in Yobe

Chai...Report reaching Fidelis Chidi blog says two explosions have reportedly hit Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The explosions are coming barely 24 hours after over 50 were killed in another bomb attack in Gombe State.

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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 different degrees of injuries from the two explosions.

It was stated that a ten year old girl and an elderly woman carried out the two attacks at the screening area for the Eid prayers in Damaturu.

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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.”

Yusuf said, “It is hard to ascertain the number of casualties now but the military and policemen are everywhere keeping watch on the town.”

Usman, who urged citizens to be calm and vigilant, said the 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 would deter our resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.”

The twin blasts, which occurred at Phase 1 Eid praying ground were reportedly detonated by a female suicide bomber.
Casualty figure could not be ascertained at the moment as emergency teams are said to be evacuating corpses from the blast scene.


Also....At least 50 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured after two bombs ripped through Gombe central market on Thursday.
The incident occurred when customers were making last-minute Ramadan shopping in the evening.
Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the incident, a top member of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, who pleaded anonymity, said he counted over 48 dead bodies.
He said corpses were deposited at the mortuary of the Specialist Hospital and Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kudu Nma, confirmed the incident.
He said, “There was a bomb blast. The (bomber) was either on a suicide mission or (may be) the bombs were kept somewhere with the view to causing panic and apprehension to people.”
According to him, the bomb exploded at the Sabon Layi footwear market.
“People were busy shopping in preparation for the Sallah festival. The casualties are yet to be ascertained. As you can see, people are busy working, trying to save lives; for now we cannot tell you the number of casualties,” the police commissioner said.
He said the police had condoned off the place to avoid looting, adding that relative calm had returned to the area.