At least 10 people killed by suicide attack in Adamawa, northern Nigeria

Not less than ten people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Friday at a busy market in Gombi town in northern Nigeria where the jihadist Boko Haram group is waging an insurgency, residents and a Red Cross official said.

Boko Haram has been waging an almost seven-year campaign in Nigeria's remote north to build an Islamic state. Thousands have been killed and more than two million people displaced by the campaign.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has been using suicide bombers since the army, helped by neighbors Chad and Cameroon, expelled the group from territory it had captured previously.

A male suicide bomber attacked the market of Gombe in Adawama state, killing eight people and wounding 28, said a local Red Cross official.

Two traders at the market put the death toll at ten, while a police spokesman said four had been killed and 17 wounded. Gombe lies near the border of the remote northeastern Borno state, where the insurgency started.

A Red Cross official in the state, Maikano Abdullahi, said, “Eight persons were confirmed dead, while 25 others were injured.”

A trader, who said he narrowly escaped death, Adamu Gombi, said the attack occurred in the early afternoon.

“It was around 12 noon, while we were busy trading at Kasuwar Buhu, a teenage boy detonated the bomb, killing himself and several others.

“As I am talking to you now, many lives were lost. I saw about ten corpses and those injured are being evacuated to hospitals,” he said.

According to him, during the ensuing confusion and stampede, many people lost their money and other valuables to pilferers.

“I saw people lying in the pool of their blood. I saw over five died bodies. There should be more security in areas recaptured from the insurgents, else it’s like starting the fight all over again,”.

The state commissioner of Information, Ahmad Sajoh, called on residents to remain calm, assuring that security operatives were on the top of the situation.

He said the state government would pay the medical bills of the affected victims.
“It’s unfortunate, but security operatives are on top of the situation, people should be vigilant.

“The state government will foot the medical bills of the affected victims,” said Mr. Sajoh.