Borno Market Blast Kills 50, Injures 68

Over 50 people, including 16 members of the Vigilante Youth, a.k.a Civilian JTF were killed, while about 68 persons were seriously injured when a Peugeot 505 saloon car carrying charcoal but laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) exploded around the busy El-Kanemi Roundabout, near Monday Market, some 40 metres away from the office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital yesterday
The explosion, with a huge fireball, sources said, occurred at about 7am while businessmen and women were rushing to display their goods and wares.
The Tide learnt that the blast had attracted sympathisers who gathered to look at a burnt vehicle following the bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Monday Market in Maiduguri.
The Chairman of the Vigilante Youth a.k.a Civilian JTF attached to Sector 3, Mallam Iliya Saidu while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima said, his men were able to identify nine of his members that died in the blast.
However, Chairman of Monday Market Traders Association, Alhaji Bukar Jere while giving a breakdown of the number of casualties to Governor Shettima when he visited the scene, yesterday insisted that 16 Civilian JTF members were among the dozens of people killed.
Briefing, Governor Shettima at the scene of the blast, Manager, Maiduguri Monday Market said “16 Civilian JTF were among those killed in the blast, while 69 sustained serious injuries”.
He said four vehicles and four tricycles, popularly called ‘KEKE NAPEP’ were burnt in the blast, adding that the incident also affected 49 shops and wares displayed by the petty traders on the road side.
A witness, who did not want his name mentioned for fear of being attacked, said he was not sure whether the bomb was planted in the vehicle overnight or in the morning.
Another witness said many people affected were less privileged children who were receiving Ramadan “sadaka” items from donors as well as elderly women selling groundnuts and other foods around the area.
An officer of the State Security Service (SSS), had confirmed the explosion to PREMIUM TIMES minutes after it occurred.
The SSS said the area of the blast has since been cordoned off.
However, The Tide sources said that another part of the large market remained open as at the time of this report.
The Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Batti, told newsmen that the headquarters was yet to receive an update and casualty figures from the Maiduguri zonal office.
But emergency rescue and management personnel in Maiduguri were busy yesterday trying to clear the area of any remaining debris.
Also, scores of dead bodies were evacuated to hospitals nearby while the injured are now receiving treatment in the hospitals.

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr Masa’udu Kazaure, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala and JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dipo Ojerinde, at the 5th JAMB combined policy meeting on admissions to degree, NCE and ND awarding institutions in Abuja, yesterday