23rd December, 2014
AFP
An explosion rocked Bauchi yesterday setting fire to a market, where heavy casualties were feared. Eyewitnesses claim that about 15 people were killed in the blast. The targeted city of Bauchi have been hit previously by Boko Haram and while there was no claim of responsibility for the latest unrest, the Islamists were suspected.
The blast hit Bauchi city, the capital of Bauchi state, at roughly 5:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) but there is no confirmation that a bomb was responsible.
“There was an explosion in the market with a large number of women traders,” said Adamu Abubakar of the Red Cross in Bauchi. “There are heavy casualties of course, but for now we can’t do anything until the fire is put out.”
Multiple witnesses gave a similar account, including Ishak Lawan, who said firefighters were struggling to control the raging inferno.
Elsewhere, Boko Haram gunmen stormed Geidam in Yobe state on Sunday, setting fire to several buildings and forcing residents to flee into the bush, witnesses said.
“They were chanting Allahu Akbar and firing shots and throwing bombs,” said resident Adamu Shehu.
“We spent a night in the bush but from afar we could see in the darkness flames and smoke coming from the town,” he said.
Geidam is the hometown of Yobe’s governor Ibrahim Geidam and his home was also razed, witnesses said.