This early Saturday, October 29 morning has turned sour for Maiduguri residents as two bomb blasts have been reported in the Borno state capital.

According to Premium Times, an official of the Civilian-JTF, Alhaji DanBatta, has confirmed the two blasts. The first of which occurred at 7 am at a coffee drinking spot near the Bakassi IDP camp, along the popular Maiduguri-Biu road.


 
Yunus Musa, a resident of the area, said: “9 persons were reportedly killed in the blast and have been evacuated to the hospital.”

The second blast occurred at about 7.35 am, near the NNPC fuel depot along Damboa Road, killing a woman and a tricycle rider. It is not immediately clear if the bomber was the woman, or the tricycle driver.

The twin blasts occurred about 1km apart and the exact number of casualties is still being collated. Alhaji DanBatta, said that the first blast came from suicide bombers who were trying to invade Bakassi IDP camp, one of the largest displaced persons camp in Maiduguri.



DanBatta claims the attack could have been far worse, as he said:

“We have another sad day today, but we thank God the worst did not happen; because the suicide bombers actually wanted to enter Bakassi camp, and that could have been really bad.

“There was another one just opposite the NNPC Depot along Damboa Road. But I cannot give you the details of the casualties recorded immediately because we are presently conveying the victims to the hospital. I will get back to you when the doctors confirm their conditions.”

This is the first bomb blast in months, since May 2016 when a bomb blast hit the state secretariat in Maiduguri. At least four people were killed in the bomb blast.