Army reverses Damaturu blast dead to 11 over error

Some Nigerians have expressed shock over the bomb blasts that rocked Damaturu, the Yobe capital, on Friday, leaving many casualities in its trail.

Muslims had gathered at the ground on Friday morning to mark Eid-el-Fitr.

Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe, and Major General Tukur Buratai, the chief of army staff, sympathized with, and encouraged residents to be security conscious.

It was believed that a teenage girl and an elderly woman carried out the two attacks at the screening area for the Eid prayers in Damaturu.

There were two blasts at a venue where volunteers were waiting to screen worshippers, he said.

Security operatives and men of the anti-bomb squard have condoned off praying grounds to prevent further attacks, Vanguard adds.

The source whose name cannot be mentioned, because she is not allowed to speak to the press, said some of the victims suffered injuries that may affect their physical forms permanently. Sources told Nigerian broadcast station Channels Television that scores were feared dead.

According to the source from the hospital in Damaturu, many casualties were brought in to the health facility.

The bombs went off about 8am at one of the Eid grounds located in an area called Phase-1 Secretariat along Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

At least “four persons died in the first explosion and seven people were injured, while five people lost their lives in the second explosion and 11 wounded”, said Usman.

“It happened at about 8am”.

“Those that were most affected were the aide workers that were checking and frisking the bodies of worshippers before they were allowed into the prayer ground”.