At least 33 dead in Maiduguri bomb attacks

Three bombings rocked separate targets in
Maiduguri, Borno State capital on Saturday, killing
at least 33 people, witnesses and a local official
have said.
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.
“A female suicide bomber exploded as soon as she
stepped out of a motorised rickshaw,” said
Gamandi, who was at the scene. “Eighteen people
were killed.”
That account was supported by a nurse at the
Maiduguri General Hospital, where many of the
victims were taken.
About an hour later a bomb blast hit the popular
Monday Market, killing another 15 people,
according to Gamandi and the nurse, who
requested anonymity.
It was not immediately clear whether the second
attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
“For now, we have at least 33 dead bodies from
the two incidents…the toll may change because we
are expecting more casualties,” said Gamandi.
The first two attacks were confirmed by Borno’s
Justice Commissioner Kaka Shehu, but he declined
to provide casualties figures until rescue workers
had completed their searches.
Shortly after 1:00 pm Shehu phoned AFP in
Maiduguri to confirm a third bombing at the busy
Borno Express bus terminal, but details, including
on casualties, were not immediately available.
“We condemn these acts in their entirety and we
extend our condolences to the victims,” Shehu
said.
“The terrorists are angry with the way they were
sacked from towns and villages and are now
venting their anger,” he added.
Shehu was referring to an ongoing offensive
against Boko Haram in Borno state being waged by
Nigeria and Chad, with support from Cameroon and
Niger.
The four-nation offensive has claimed major
successes over the insurgents since the start of
last month, and analysts have said that Boko
Haram would likely step up bombings on civilian
targets in response.