50 Confirmed Dead in Damaturu Bombing on Friday

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that a total of 50 people died in the twin suicide bombings that rocked Damaturu, Yobe on Friday morning.

Daily Post reports that the explosions occurred at screening areas of the Eid prayer ground.

Acting-Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, who confirmed that the incident, and released the following statement (excerpt):

This is to confirm that there were two suicide bomb explosions today at about 7:40 a.m. in Damaturu, Yobe, in which two female suicide bombers — one elderly woman and a ten year-old girl –detonated the devices.

It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.

43 persons died in the first explosion while seven people died in the second explosion.

Usman further stated that Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had called on the residents of the area to stay calm and be security conscious.

“No amount of terrorist act will deter the Nigerian Army’s resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

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