A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a crowded market in Biu, northeast Nigeria, on Thursday, leaving 15 people dead and many others injured.
This is the latest in a spate of similar attacks by women and girls in the region besieged by Boko Haram.
Biu is the largest Borno town in the southern part of the state, located 187 kilometres south of the troubled Maiduguri, the state capital.
“There has been a suicide attack by a female suicide bomber in the market this afternoon,” said Babagani Ali, who lives in the Borno state town 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of state capital Maiduguri.
Another eye witness said that “she was buying soup ingredients at the vegetable section of the market around 3:15 PM and suddenly there was a heavy sound and the market was covered with dust as the entire place was thrown into confusion” adding that “human parts were littered at the scene as survivors scrambled for safety”.
A member of the Biu Youth Volunteer popularly called “Civilian JTF” involved in the rescue efforts, who pleaded anonymity, said on phone that a suspected member of the dreaded Boko Haram entered the vegetable section of the Market and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing several people at the market.
He said 15 dead bodies have so far been recovered, with several others carrying varying degrees of injuries, currently receiving medical attention at the Biu General Hospital.
A doctor at the Biu General Hospital, who also pleaded anonymity, disclosed that 7 dead bodies were brought from the scene while 8 others, passed away shortly after being brought to the hospital.
He also said 21 others with severe injuries are currently being prepared for referrals to other major hospitals within and outside the state.
Thursday’s suicide bomb attack is the first ever suicide attack in Biu Town since the commencement of the Boko Haram insurgency.
In January this year, Boko Haram attempted to attack the military barracks in Biu Town in an effort to take over the cold town, located on a plateau, but were resisted by the military. – Additional reports from Channels.
