Africa

Twin bomb blasts kill 71, injure 124 in Nigeria

Twin bomb blasts kill 71, injure 124 in Nigeria

Twin bomb explosions at a bus station outside Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja have killed at least 71 people and severely injured 124 others.

Nigerian security officials say the blasts occurred at the bus station packed with commuters on the outskirts of Abuja on Monday.

The death toll rose to 71 after several people succumbed to their injuries at hospitals across the capital city. This is while earlier media reports had put the death toll at 35.

Medical sources said the death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

“We have a total of 71 dead and 124 others injured,” media outlets quoted, national police spokesman, Frank Mba, as saying.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Similar incidents, however, are usually blamed on Boko Haram fighters.

Abuja and its adjacent areas have been rocked by deadly bombings several times over the past few years.

Several regions of Nigeria have been also hit by deadly violence in recent months.

The developments come a day after at least 60 people were killed in two separate attacks in the towns of Anchaka and Bama in northeastern Borno state on Sunday.

In May 2013, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared the state of emergency in three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.

According to recent figures gathered by the United Nations, more than 1,200 people have been killed in violence in the region since the state of emergency was imposed.

Back to top button