The Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the Potiskum GSM Market, Mr Bala Lawan, injured in the Potiskum Market blast, said the female suicide bomber “beat all surveillance” to trigger her explosive device at the rowdy market gate.
The death toll from the blast, which occurred on Sunday has increased to six. Five persons were reported dead shortly after the blast while the sixth person died later.
Speaking to Channels Television on his hospital bed in Potiskum, the CSO said: “Shortly after the first bomb blast carried out by two female suicide bombers at the same venue weeks back, authorities of the market banned women from entering the market while thorough checks were carried out on male customers before entrance”.
According to him, “the lady was pacing around at the gate for sometime, but since she could not have the courage to seek entrance, she decided to release her trigger at the gate, killing five people and injuring several others”.
“The Blast Went Off”
Two other victims of the blast, Idriss Adamu and Umar Mohammed also shared their experiences.
Mr Adamu said he had just finished paying for the repairs of his bicycle close to the GSM market when he heard the explosion.
“There was an argument at the gate and I could hear them trying to restrict her entry and suddenly I heard a heavy sound. I felt some pains within my arms and one Good Samaritan came to my rescue and brought me to the hospital. That is all I can remember,” he said.
Sharing his own experience, Mohammed said: “We came to the market to buy a handset and after that, we were screened and while we were departing, we passed the lady alleged to have triggered the explosive. I had Bala, the CSO, asking her why she was coming towards the gate, knowing full-well that women were banned from entering. As I turned to watch what was transpiring between the CSO and the lady, the blast went off and all I could see were several people laying down on the ground including myself”.
The Chief nursing officer of the Potiskum General Hospital, Abbas Lawan, said the death toll from the blast had risen to six while 51 persons sustained various degrees of injury.
He also said 10 of the victims, who had serious cases, were referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Nguru in Yobe State while only three were currently receiving treatment at the Hospital.
The medical officer said the remaining 45 had been treated and discharged, as their cases could be manage even from their homes.
Suicide bombing has become rampant in Potiskum, the commercial city of Yobe State, in the volatile north-east Nigeria.
Suicide bombers have continued to hit motor parks, markets, restaurants and several other public places in recent times in Potiskum town and at various times, several lives have been lost while lots of property had been destroyed.
