Many Feared Dead As Bomb Blast Hits Yola Market

There has been a suicide bomb attack on Yola, the capital city of Adamawa state, north east Nigeria.

Police are yet to confirm the incident but reports say the blast occurred about 7:45pm at Jimeta main market.

It is feared that the casualty figure could be high considering that it was the time of the evening when human traffic was high as traders were closing for the day and some were getting set for the night market.

A resident of the town was quoted to have told Premium Times, “We just finished observing the Maghrib prayer when we heard a loud blast in the direction of the market.

“You know many traders also come out of the market and display their wares outside the main market to also observe the night market,” he said, adding that there was gridlock in the area “with many Keke Napep (tricycle) operators jostling for passengers” when the bomb exploded.

This brings to at least three, the number of attacks recorded within 24 hours as Northeast Nigeria has experienced renewed attacks from terrorists in the past week.

Seven people were killed with eight others injured in Maiduguri, Borno State late Wednesday night at a military check-point at a mechanic workshop, opposite Sector One Military Base and NNPC mega station, on Baga road in Maiduguri.

A bomb-laden car has also exploded at another military check point where scores of soldiers are feared dead barely a kilometer away from the mechanic shed where Wednesday night’s attack was carried out on Baga road in Maiduguri.

Death toll is yet to be ascertained. Witnesses believe that scores of soldiers manning the checkpoint may have been hit alongside other civilians at the area when the blast occurred.