Seven people have been confirmed dead after a female suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the entrance of the Damaturu Central Motor Park in Yobe State Capital, north-east Nigeria.
A witnesses, who spoke off-camera, told Channels Television that the female suicide bomber came to the gate of the park at about 11:45am and detonated the IED close to the security checks, injuring several people at the scene.
Several residents besieged the Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital to sympathise and also find out the whereabouts of loved ones who might have been affected by the blast.
The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Garba Fika, told reporters that 37 injured persons were brought in from the scene of the blast for treatment.
He confirmed that out of the 37 persons brought to the hospital, seven have been confirmed dead while 27 were being treated.
Dr. Fika also said seven persons out of the of the 27 being treated were critically injured and may be referred to either the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru or Azare in neighbouring Bauchi State.
The State’s Governor, Mr Ibrahim Gaidam, who also visited the hospital, sympathised with victims. He said those injured would be treated with the free drug procured by the state government.
Governor Gaidam condemned the act and stressed that his administration would foot the medical bills of all the victims.
He also directed the authorities in the hospital to speed up the treatments and work out modalities for the referral cases for urgent medical attention
The Governor condoled the families of those killed in the blast and called on residents to be more vigilant in assisting security agents in the fight against terrorism.
