by Musa Abdullahi
Scores of people have been killed today (Saturday) in Maiduguri by a heavy bomb which exploded at the Baga Market in Maiduguri.
Three bombings rocked separate targets in northeast Nigeria’s largest city of Maiduguri on Saturday, killing at least 33 people, witnesses and a local official told AFP.
The first attack by a female suicide bomber at roughly 11:20 am (1020 GMT) killed 18 people at the Baga fish market, and another 15 were killed about an hour later at the Monday Market, said fisherman’s union boss Abubakar Gamandi, in an account supported by other witnesses and a health worker.
Borno state Justice Commissioner Kaka Shehu confirmed those two blasts and said a third bombing hit the busy Borno Express bus station just after 1:00 p.m.The market is the biggest fish outlet in Northeast Nigeria where buyers and traders from across Nigeria and communities along the shores of the Lake Chad converged.
Daily Trust reports that the area has been cordoned off, but Mohammed Mai Kifi a fish monger at the market said,”The blast was devastating because it killed many people,” .
“It killed hawkers of bread, tea, fruits, labourers and artisans, this is a sad day for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military in a statement to NewsWireNGR said it recaptured Mafa and Marte Local Governments Areas of Borno State on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
During these operations, the gallant and courageous troops recovered a large quantity of high caliber of arms and ammunitions including anti-aircraft guns from the insurgents.
Colonel Sani Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations said with the capture of Mafa, Marte LGAs, and the Chadian troops holding fort in Dikwa, the international route from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic is now fully secured.
“With this positive development, the security of the area has significantly improved. It is hoped that international trade and socio-economic activities would be restored along this corridor.” Sani concluded.
