(Photo: File copy of a blast scene)
(Updated) Two bomb blasts have killed at least 48 people and injured many more in Gombe central, officials have said.
The explosions occurred Thursday evening as people engaged in last- minute activities in the market ahead of tomorrow’s id-el-fitr celebrations.
Speaking to reporters a member of the Nigeria Red Cross who pleaded for anonymity, said they counted about 48 dead apart from the pieces and the corpses were deposited at the mortuary of the Specialist Hospital and Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe.
Confirming the incident to news men, Mr Kudu Nma, commissioner of police, said there was a bomb blast either on a suicide mission or ID kept somewhere, with the view to causing panic and apprehension to people.
According to him, the bomb exploded at the central market sabon layi where they sell slippers and wears.“People were busy shopping preparatory to sallah festival, he said the casualties are yet to be ascertain.
“As you can see, people are busy working trying to save lives, for now we cannot tell you the number because is contradictory.He said police have cordoned off the place to avoid looting, and the place is relatively calm.He further called on the public to continue maintaining vigilance, watch out for movement of people they don’t know and alert the security agents.
The explosions appear like a continuation of the rising wave of attacks since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Last Sunday ,several deaths were averted as security men flung away explosives planted in an ECWA Church premises in Jos.A few weeks earlier, two blasts occurred in Jos killing 44.Then another one occurred in Zaria Kaduna state killing at least 25 people.
There have been bomb blasts in Borno ,Yobe ,Adamawa and Kano states in recent weeks also.
The Nigerian Army recently announced that it had arrested the mastermind of the Jos and Zaria bombblasts.Two other accomplices were nabbed, the army said.
President Buhari who inherited the problem of Boko Haram insurgency from former President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that the menace will be defeated.
He has already changed the service chiefs with a call on them to restore the glory of the Nigerian military.
