Northeast Nigeria bomb explosions death toll reaches 54
The death toll from multiple bomb blasts in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri has increased to 54.
According to Victor Isuku, a police spokesman in Maiduguri, multiple bomb attacks rocked the capital city of Borno State on Sunday evening, leaving at least 54 people dead and 90 others injured.
The Nigerian military said three blasts had taken place in the restive city. However, locals said there had been four separate bomb explosions, including one at a mosque during evening prayers and another targeting football fans.
"I saw the corpses with my own eyes. There were four separate blasts,” said local resident Bashir Ibrahim, who lives near Maiduguri airport.
Faruq Ali, a Nigerian trader, confirmed that one of the explosions struck a mosque in Maiduguri’s Binta Sugar area.
"Luckily enough, only few people were observing the Isha (night prayers) but we counted 11 dead bodies and about 21 others sustained injuries," he said.
Another witness reported that a football "viewing center" located near the mosque was also targeted by another explosion.
"We counted four dead bodies and many others sustained injuries," Markus John, a tire repairer, noted.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the Nigerian government blames such incidents on Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group.
Later on Sunday, Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman condemned the bombings, saying they demonstrate "high level of desperation on the part of the Boko Haram terrorists.”
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government. It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its activities in 2009.
Boko Haram has also declared allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri group which is perpetrating heinous crimes against humanity in areas under its control in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
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