Explosion Rocks Damaturu Eid Prayer Ground Early Friday

A bomb (according to some sources - two bombs) detonated at the Eid-al-Fitr prayer ground in Damaturu, Yobe state, in the early hours of Friday, July 17.

The explosion site is located in the area called phase-one along Maiduguri Road, Premium Times reports.

Sources said that people were killed in the explosion.

One Abdul Malik narrated:

"It happened at about 8am. Now we are being asked to return back home. Those that had gotten close to the Eid ground said many people were affected."

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The incident was believed to have been caused by a female suicide bomber. A source told The Nation that he had counted five dead bodies.

Legit.ng reader provides that the blast killed at least six officers who were trying to block the road for entrance of vehicles from going.

Security operatives and men of the anti-bomb squard have condoned off praying grounds to prevent further attacks,Vanguard adds.

More details and official comments are yet expected on the issue.

UPDATE:

Ahmad Adamu, a security volunteer told AFP:

"There were two blasts near the Eid prayer ground. The first blast went off around 07:15 local time while security volunteers, who had come earlier than worshippers, were waiting for the worshippers so they could assist in crowd control."

Reuters reports with reference to one Muhammad Adamu, a businessman who was at the praying area, that he had seen many injured people.

UPDATE:

A hospital source said that no fewer than 10 people had died in the explosions. The death toll is expected to rise as many other people were injured and rushed to the hospital. The source noted that those who had been close to the site narrated that many people had been affected.

UPDATE:

The Nigerian army has confirmed the death of 50 people in two separate Damaturu explosions, NAN provides. The statement issued by Sani Usman, the army spokesman, reads:

"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."

While 43 people died in the first explosion, seven lives where claimed in the second incident.

Source: Legit.ng