An explosion in Maiduguri, the capital of northeast Borno state in
Nigeria, killed at least eight people Wednesday, authorities said.
The explosion either targeted or arose from a taxi filled with
passengers. It was the deadliest bombing in northeastern Nigeria's
largest city in several months, officials said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 15 injured people were receiving treatment in a nearby hospital.
“Security has been beefed up at the scene of the explosion,” the emergency agency's statement said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion. It
was unclear if a bomb had been planted in the taxi or if a passenger
detonated explosives.
The blast erupted as the taxi approached a gasoline station near a
camp that shelters thousands of people, refugees from Boko Haram
jihadists' attacks.
"I am disheartened by the news of the bomb blast in Maiduguri. My condolences to the families of the victims, and the Borno state government," President Muhammadu Buhari said on Twitter.
"I am disheartened by the news of the bomb blast in Maiduguri. My condolences to the families of the victims, and the Borno state government," President Muhammadu Buhari said on Twitter.
Northeastern Nigeria has been the base of the Boko Haram extremist
group's seven-year uprising, which has left more than 20,000 people
dead.
Post a Comment