Bomb Explosion Hits Maiduguri Monday Market

A suicide bomber has allegedly rocked the troubled Monday market in the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, on January 10, 2015, Saturday, reports coming in disclose.

According to the information available with SaharaReporters, an unspecified number of traders were killed and injured by a suspected female jihadist.

#BREAKING: Suicide bombing by young girl in NE Nigeria, 10 dead: Red Cross, vigilante
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) January 10, 2015

However, the local vigilantes, aka the Civilian JTF, put the number of the deceased to 20 people, while 18 more were wounded by the blast.

The blast happened at about 12:20 (local time) in the section of the market where people buy and sell chickens. The explosion caused panic across Maiduguri, with many residents scampering home for safety.

People flee Maiduguri Monday market after the explosion on January 10, 2015. Photo: dailytrust.com.ng

The terrorist attack was confirmed by a spokesperson of the Borno Police, Gideon Jibrin. He noted that the police and security operatives were deployed in the area to ascertain the extent of damage.
A security source, who spoke to PremiumTimes on conditions of anonymity, revealed that a suspected suicide bomber was a girl, aged 10, or even less, adding:

“Her body was completely shattered. Because of the high calibre explosive she strapped to her body, the upper part of her body was flung apart and found about 500 metres away.”

The source added the blast rocked that Monday market occurred shortly after another suspected bomber was apprehended in the area.

This is the third attack on the area in the past three months. The last attack happened in the end of November 2014. Two female suicide bombers detonated themselves at the busy market, claiming between 30 and 60 lives. A third bomber was reportedly killed before being able to blow herself up.

According to Civilian JTF statements in December 2014, Boko Haram has sent a total of 52 female suicide bombers on a mission to Maiduguri.

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