UPDATE: Maiduguri twin blasts: 51 killed, nearly 60 injured, says Red Cross

Officials of the Nigerian Red Cross today confirmed that 51 people were killed while close to 60 were injured on Saturday when two bombs exploded in front of a cinema in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. When our correspondent visited the scene today, health workers, humanitarian organizations and youth vigilantes were seen battling to recover […]

Officials of the Nigerian Red Cross today confirmed that 51 people were killed while close to 60 were injured on Saturday when two bombs exploded in front of a cinema in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

When our correspondent visited the scene today, health workers, humanitarian organizations and youth vigilantes were seen battling to recover corpses buried in destroyed houses.

Rescue workers said among the victims that died were children, women that sell akara, men that sell barbecued meat (Suya) as well as children and football fans that were trapped in the cinema while watching soccer.

Most of the injured were taken to the Borno State Specialists Hospital and the Umaru Shehu Hospital in Maiduguri.

At the Umaru Shehu Hospital, many families were seen taking the remains of their loved ones for burial.

“It is another sad moment for us, we have lost our children, our breadwinners and our neighbours,” said Habiba Musa, who said two of her children were killed in the blast.