Twin Bomb explosions on Tuesday hit a highly populated Maiduguri market, killing at least 30 traders and injuring many others.

According to witnesses, one of the explosions occurred around 11.30am along the Baban-Layi axis of the main market when commercial activities just started.

The bomb explosion at the main market is believed to have been orchestrated by a female suicide bomber, while the one on Baban Layi was carried out by a male suicide bomber, who blew himself up in an unmarked pickup van.

A trader in the market told newsmen that the attacker hid the bomb in a motorised rickshaw which is popular in the state.

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Clement Adoda, who confirmed the incident expressed dismay about the incident, but could not give a precise casualty figure.

“I cannot give you the exact number of casualties right now, as I am heading towards the blast scenes, but the reports I’m receiving right now as I speak indicates that several people were killed and injured in the sad and unfortunate blast,” said Adoda.

The police chief said the scenes of the explosion had been condoned off by security operatives to prevent any further attacks.

Authorities of Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, however, told newsmen that scores of dead people had been deposited in its mortuary while many injured victims were still being conveyed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital for medical treatment.

“We cannot confirm to you the casualty figure because we are still receiving dead bodies, as the Hilux patrol vehicles of police and military are still bringing in both killed and injured victims.