By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri
Fears that there might be a resurgence of terrorist attacks in the North east heightened Saturday as a female suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, at the Central Motor Park in Damaturu, Yobe State, killing seven persons.
Scored of people are also believed to have been injured as the female bomber detonated bombs strapped to her body at the entrance to the park, close to the security post. The incident occurred at about 11.45 am Saturday.
The dead and injured were taken to the Damaturu Specialist Hospital, our correspondent learnt.
At the hospital, the medical director, Garba Musa Fika, told journalists that 34 persons were brought to the hospital from the blast scene and confirmed that seven of them had died while 27 were receiving medical attention.
Of the 27 being treated, Fika said that seven are critically injured and may be referred to either the Federal Medical centre Nguru, Yobe Stateor Azare in neighbouring Bauchi state.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam who visited the hospital shortly after the blast to assess the situation condemned the attack and promised that the state government would foot the medical bills of all the victims.
The governor condoled the families of those killed in the blast and urged resident to be more security conscious vigilant and to always assist security agents in the fight against terrorism. Residents besieged the Damaturu Specialist Hospital after the blast in an attempt to locate their relatives.
Business activities at the motor park and a popular market adjacent to it came to a halt after the attack as everybody ran for their lives.
Attacks like Saturday’s had reduced in the North east since the campaign by the Nigerian military against insurgents in the region but there has been renewed attacks by Boko Haram, with the group recapturing Marte in Borno State on Friday.