This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/16/two-explosions-nigeria-gombe-people-killed-injured-boko-haram

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Two explosions in Nigerian city of Gombe leave dozens dead Suicide bombs in north-eastern Nigerian towns leave scores dead
(about 17 hours later)
At least 49 people were killed and dozens injured when two blasts struck a market in the north-east Nigerian city of Gombe on Thursday, rescue workers have said. Suicide bombs have killed more than 60 people in multiple blasts in the north-eastern towns of Gombe and Damaturu, scaring people into staying home during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration.
The first explosion took place outside a packed footwear shop around 1620 GMT, followed by a second explosion minutes later, said Badamasi Amin, a local trader who counted at least three bodies. He said the area was crowded with customers doing last-minute shopping on the eve of Eid, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. At least 13 people were killed in Damaturu on Friday in three suicide attacks carried out by girls as residents prepared for the Eid festival at the end of Ramadan, police said.
Residents said twin explosions near a prayer ground in Damaturu had killed two people, before a third blast went off moments later near a mosque leaving another 11 people dead, according to medics.
“Thirteen people were killed in the suicide blasts,” said Markus Danladi, Yobe state police commissioner. “The attacks were carried out by three underage girls. Fifteen people were also injured in the attacks.”
The attacks followed a double bombing at a market in the town of Gombe, south of Damaturu, on Thursday evening that killed at least 50 people who were shopping for the Eid celebrations.
The first explosion took place outside a packed footwear shop in Gombe around 1620 GMT, followed by a second explosion minutes later, said Badamasi Amin, a local trader who counted at least three bodies. He said the area was crowded with customers doing last-minute shopping on the eve of Eid, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Amin said he was about 70 metres from the scene when the first blast hit.Amin said he was about 70 metres from the scene when the first blast hit.
“I and many other people rushed to assist the victims. While we were trying to attend to the wounded, another blast happened outside a china shop just opposite the footwear shop,” he said, adding that he was “drenched in blood” from moving dead bodies.“I and many other people rushed to assist the victims. While we were trying to attend to the wounded, another blast happened outside a china shop just opposite the footwear shop,” he said, adding that he was “drenched in blood” from moving dead bodies.
Ali Nasiru, another trader, said he saw “people lying lifeless on the ground”.Ali Nasiru, another trader, said he saw “people lying lifeless on the ground”.
“Traders and shoppers helped in evacuating the victims to the hospital,” he said.“Traders and shoppers helped in evacuating the victims to the hospital,” he said.
“In all, we have 49 dead and 71 injured,” a rescue official told AFP, asking not to be named. He said the toll could climb further as some of the wounded were in a critical condition and that the victims include many children. A rescue official, asking not to be named, told AFP 71 people were injured and said the death toll could climb further as some of the wounded were in a critical condition and that the victims included many children.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts but a market, bus station and stadium in Gombe, the capital of Gombe state, have all in recent months been targeted by bomb and suicide attacks.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts but a market, bus station and stadium in Gombe, the capital of Gombe state, have all in recent months been targeted by bomb and suicide attacks.
In February, the militant Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an attack on Gombe during which hundreds of insurgents, armed with heavy weapons, invaded the city for a few hours. In February, the militant Islamist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an attack on Gombe during which hundreds of insurgents, armed with heavy weapons, invaded the town for a few hours.
Gombe state’s neighbours, Borno, Yobo and Adamawa, have been most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed more than 15,000 people in Nigeria since 2009.Gombe state’s neighbours, Borno, Yobo and Adamawa, have been most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed more than 15,000 people in Nigeria since 2009.
There has been a spike in attacks by the group after a four-nation coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon pushed out the militants from captured territory earlier this year.There has been a spike in attacks by the group after a four-nation coalition of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon pushed out the militants from captured territory earlier this year.
The violence has intensified since the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, took power one and a half months ago and vowed to crush the group, something his predecessor had also made a priority but failed to do.The violence has intensified since the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, took power one and a half months ago and vowed to crush the group, something his predecessor had also made a priority but failed to do.
In an Eid message, Buhari pledged to press on with efforts to quash the militants.In an Eid message, Buhari pledged to press on with efforts to quash the militants.
“I was very aware of your high expectations when I assumed office and I reassure you, my fellow citizens, that since my inauguration … I have been working with utmost dedication to meticulously plan and tackle the many national challenges which we identified and promised to resolve,” he said.“I was very aware of your high expectations when I assumed office and I reassure you, my fellow citizens, that since my inauguration … I have been working with utmost dedication to meticulously plan and tackle the many national challenges which we identified and promised to resolve,” he said.
“To succeed however, I need your continued support, understanding and patience.”“To succeed however, I need your continued support, understanding and patience.”
Buhari, a former army general, this week sacked his entire defence top brass in the wake of criticism over the military command’s poor handling of the six-year Boko Haram insurgency.Buhari, a former army general, this week sacked his entire defence top brass in the wake of criticism over the military command’s poor handling of the six-year Boko Haram insurgency.