The suicide bomber exploded as truckers were tucking into dinner at the bustling marketplace where vendors urged them to buy sugar cane. At least 34 people were killed and another 80 wounded here in Yola, a town packed with refugees from Nigeria’s conflict, emergency officials said Wednesday.
Then two more suicide bombers killed at least three people in the northern city of Kano Wednesday, according to police.
The blasts, with a combined death toll of 37, are the latest by Boko Haram, Nigeria’s Islamic extremists whose 6-year insurgency has killed 20,000 and caused 2.3 million to flee their homes.
The Kano blast ripped through a busy mobile phone market in the evening.
Eye witness reports Nafiu Mohammed and Suleiman Haruna told AFP, that the explosion happened at the Farm Centre market shortly after 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) and rescuers were on the scene dealing with casualties.
“I was preparing for the afternoon prayers when there was an explosion deep inside the market at exactly 4:10 pm,” said Mohammed.
“Police officers from a nearby police station mobilised to the scene while traders in confusion locked up their shops and moved out of the market.
“We are now at a distance while the rescue vehicles are taking the victims to hospital. We have no idea of the number of casualties.”
Officers fired warning shots as a deterrent for people to stay back from the market, which is typically packed with traders and shoppers.
Haruna also said it was not clear how many people had been affected but he added: “I saw ambulances leaving the market.”
Emmanual Ikechukwwu, with agency report
