21:30
Yola, Nigeria. An explosion occurred in the city of Yola,
Nigeria. The night-time blasts ripped through packed crowds, killing 32 people
and wounding 80 others.
"So
far, we've recorded about 32 dead and about 80 injured," said Sa'ad Bello,
a coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency in the northeastern
city Yola.
Tuesday's
blast was the first in Nigeria in November, but suspected members of Boko Haram
have killed around 2,000 people this year alone in the country since President
Muhammadu Buhari took office in May.
Police
spokesman for the Adamawa state, Deputy Superintendent Othman Abubakar, said
that most of the victims were vendors and passer-bys.
The bomb attack hasn't been
identified as being from a suicide bomber or from an improvised explosive
device, and comes just days after President Muhammadu Buhari visited Yola and
declared that Boko Haram are close to defeat.
He told troops he believed
Boko Haram are "very close to defeat" and urged soldiers "to
remain vigilant, alert and focused to prevent Boko Haram from sneaking into our
communities to attack soft targets."
It is still unclear who is
responsible for the blast, but the armed group Boko Haram has carried out
attacks on Yola in the past, including suicide bomber attacks and other bombings.
