Five days after a bomb destroyed part of Maiduguri abattoir where about 20 persons were reportedly killed, another explosion rocked the same area on Saturday and killed 10 persons.
Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday, a member of the youth vigilante, Modu Garga, said the explosion which occurred at about 3:30pm went unnoticed by most residents of the town as it was thought to be a thunderstorm from the heavy rainfall.
According to Garga, the Saturday explosion was at a crowded cattle market in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
The cattle market, popularly known as Kasuwan-Shanu, is located adjacent to the abattoir that was attacked by a suicide bomber who killed himself and about 20 others last Tuesday.
The bomb explosion did not draw the attention of the residents of Maiduguri, as many thought its sound was that of a thunderstorm that heralded a heavy downpour in the town.
Garga said most of the people killed were traders.
Garga said, “The blast occurred at the time the rain was falling; our guys in the area inform us that they saw people fleeing from the market area.”
A soldier, who pleaded anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media, said, “There was a bomb attack; it is just that people were really unaware of it due to the rainstorm. Initially, we too thought it was the sound of the thunderstorm.
He added, “One of my colleagues attached to the area later called to inform us that there was a bomb in Kasuwan-Shanu; but I could not get him to give details.”
Kasuwan-Shanu is one of the largest cattle and sheep markets in the North-East of Nigeria. It also serves as a major supplier of animals slaughtered in the Maiduguri abattoir that was attacked last week.
The Kasuwan-Shanu bomb blast would be the fifth of such attacks since the first that rocked Maiduguri on May 30, this year.
Meanwhile, the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, has condoled with the victims of Yola bomb blast, who are receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yola.
Represented by Dr. Zainab Nyako, the President’s wife condemned the incident and wished the victims a speedy recovery.
“The President’s wife said I should tell you that she was deeply touched by this bomb incident and other related killings in the neighbouring states. She said she will continue to pray for a speedy and lasting solution.”
The Chief Medical Director, Yola Specialist Hospital, Dr. Bala Saidu, and the Head, Clinical Services, Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Bemi Kala, received Mrs. Buhari’s representative in their hospitals.
They thanked Aisha for her concern and solicited for more support from individuals and voluntary organisations.
Also speaking, a victim at the Federal Medical Centre, Mallam Abdulkadir Mohammed, thanked Mrs. Buhari and all those that had been supporting them during the trying moment.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Thursday night’s bomb blast around Jimeta Modern Market claimed over 30 lives while over 50 people sustained injuries.
