Bomb blast kills 16, injures over 30 in NE Nigeria
A bomb explosion at a crowded bus station has killed 16 people and injured over 30 others in the northeastern Nigerian city of Damaturu.
According to witnesses’ reports on Sunday, a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a crowded bus station at Damaturu’s central motor park, after she got through the security check at the entrance to the bus station.
A witness said he heard a loud explosion “and the people at the station descended into panic,” Reuters reported.
Another witness said the remains of the suicide bomber showed that she was a teenager.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. However, the Nigerian government blames such attacks on the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist group.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.
It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009, which have left more than 10,000 people dead so far.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 650,000 Nigerians have fled their homes due to the Boko Haram violence and are displaced inside the African country, while thousands of others have taken refuge in neighboring countries.
