By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Twenty people have been confirmed killed and 18 others injured Saturday after a female suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, IED, at the central market, Maduguri,

The female terrorist somehow beat the security arrangements in place at the market and gained entrance to an area where chickens are sold before detonating the bomb believed to have been strapped to her body.

The incident took place at about 12.30 pm Saturday as trading activities in the market was picking up..

The death toll, it is suspected, might rise as many people who were seriously injured were seen being evacuated from the scene of the attack to nearby hospitals. Emergency relief workers and security men quickly rushed to the attack scene and have been trying to help the injured and maintain peace.

The public relations officer of the police in Borno State, Gideon Jubrin, confirmed the incident and said that the suicide bomber was one of those that died.

He could, however, not provide further information.

Spokesman of the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, AbdulKadir Ibrahim, said he could not give details of the incident too but confirmed that officials of the agency were already on ground to provide assistance to victims

There was initial tension as some residents got restive, expressing frustration at the continuing attacks by Boko Haram in the North east, but the situation was quickly controlled by soldiers who have now cordoned off the market