Over 60 killed in Nigeria suicide bombings

KANO, Nigeria: Suicide bombers killed more than 60 people at a mosque and a market in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, in a twin attack bearing the hallmarks of Boko Haram and a day after US President Donald Trump pledged greater support to fight the militants.

The blasts, said to have been carried out by young boys, happened shortly after 1:00 pm in Mubi – some 200 kilometres from the Adamawa state capital, Yola.

Imam Garki, from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said a joint assessment with the police and Red Cross found that 26 people were killed and 56 were injured, 11 of them critically.

But a medical source at the Mubi General Hospital said they had received 37 bodies, while a rescue worker involved in the relief operation said he counted 42 dead and 68 injured. "These I saw with my own eyes. We were counting as they were being taken," said Sani Kakale. Two local residents who attended funerals for the victims said the death toll was much higher -- and could climb further. "Before I left the cemetery I took part in the burial of 68 people. More bodies were being brought by families of the victims," said Muhammad Hamidu. "I think this is the worst attack Mubi has ever witnessed. The human loss is unimaginable."

Abdullahi Labaran added: "We left 73 freshly dug graves where each victim was buried. There are still unclaimed bodies at the hospital.”

In Mubi, local volunteer Habu Saleh, who was involved in the rescue effort, described the aftermath of the bombing as "chaos". Health workers from the hospital mobilised to attend to the victims, despite being on strike over pay and conditions. Abdullahi Labaran said the first bomber mingled with worshippers who had gathered for prayers at the mosque at the edge of the market. He detonated his explosives "five minutes before the prayer started", he added. The second bomber blew himself up among the crowds of worshippers, traders and shoppers as they fled the first explosion.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been in the United States this week and met his US counterpart Donald Trump, who pledged more support in the fight against Boko Haram. Nigeria has bought a dozen A-29 Super Tucano light fighter aircraft in a $496-million deal. Trump indicated a further order for attack helicopters was also in the pipeline. "These new aircraft will improve Nigeria´s ability to target terrorists and protect civilians," Trump told a joint news conference with Buhari in Washington on Monday. The sale of the aircraft was previously blocked by the Obama administration after the Nigerian air force mistakenly bombed a camp for people displaced by Boko Haram, killing 112.