Army reverses Damaturu blast dead to 11 over error

The army has reversed the number of people killed in twin suicide bomb attacks on an Eid prayer ground in Damaturu Friday morning. It said 11 people were killed, including the two female suicide bombers, not 50 as it earlier announced in a statement. At least 18 others were injured. An army spokesman said the […]

The army has reversed the number of people killed in twin suicide bomb attacks on an Eid prayer ground in Damaturu Friday morning.

It said 11 people were killed, including the two female suicide bombers, not 50 as it earlier announced in a statement. At least 18 others were injured.

An army spokesman said the error was typographical.

An elderly woman and a 10-year-old girl have been identified as having been behind the blasts at a screening area for Eid prayers in Damaturu as early as 7.40am Friday morning, just as eid prayers got underway to mark the end of the month-long Ramadan fast.

Spokesman of the Nigeria army Colonel Sani Usman said the women detonated devices at screening areas for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at “Phase One”,  (in front of former state secretariat), Damaturu.”

At least “four persons died in the first explosion and seven people were injured, while five people lost their lives in the second explosion and 11 wounded,” said Usman.

“Troops and security agencies responded immediately. The situation is under control. Both Yobe State Governor and the Chief of Army Staff, sympathise with and urged the people to stay calm and be security conscious,” Usman added.