The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced via Twitter that 18 people have been reported dead in an explosion which occurred in Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday, October 12. The explosion occurred at about 9am at Muna garage, which is on the way to Gamboru Ngala on the outskirts of the state capital.
There have been varying casualty figures released to the media, but a source at the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital told Daily Trust that at least 18 bodies had been dropped in the hospital’s mortuary and more were being expected. However, NEMA is reporting eight deaths and also says that 15 people were left injured in the attack.
It’s not yet clear if the attack was caused by a suicide bomber, but it is believed to be the work of terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
“I thank God for sparing my life. I don’t know if it is a suicide bomber, we just heard the blast and I saw my self covered with dust,” a trader, Usman Kachalla, told Premium Times.
The latest bombing comes as a surprise due to the diminished capacity of the sect which has prevented it from carrying out such attacks in recent times.