7 dead, 48 injured in Potiskum twin suicide explosions

Seven persons died and 48 others injured when two suicide bombers struck at a market in Potiskum, Yobe State on Sunday.

An official involved in the management of the disaster, who declined to be mentioned because he was not permitted to talk to the media, confirmed the casualty to Premium times.

He said the injured victims were being treated at the General Hospital in Potiskum.

Two teenage female suicide bombers reportedly carried out the attacks.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Markus Danladi, had earlier confirmed the blasts to Premium times  but declined to give casualty figure until after proper assessment of the scenes of the attacks.

Apart from the twin explosions at the GSM market, the Daily Trust newspaper also reported that a bomb-laden Volkswagen Golf intercepted by the police exploded and killed an inspector, and a driver while many others were injured at the Divisional Police Station in Potiskum.

Mr. Danladi, who confirmed the incident, said the policemen died on the spot.

Sunday’s attacks in Potiskum happen less than two days after gunmen, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, attacked Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

The Defence Headquarters said troops engaged the attackers in a long gun battle overnight, killing many of them.