Two explosions on Saturday rocked the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, a stronghold of the radical Islamist Boko Haram group, residents said.
The blasts hit a densely populated area of the city and sent residents fleeing in panic.
Witnesses said thick smoke enveloped the sky after the twin explosions, which occurred just two minutes apart.
“The first blast happened at 6:15 p.m. and targeted residents… Other residents mobilised to the scene to assist the victims and that was when the second blast happened,” local resident Buba Ibrahim told AFP.
Emergency services were at the scene, said a security official who did not want to be named.
“It is too early to say what happened or how many people were killed… it is getting dark, but our men and the fire service operatives are on their way to the scene,” he said.
One resident, Ismaila Musa, said buildings had been destroyed in the blasts.
“My house is at Gomari…the blasts shook the foundation of our building and many others nearby,” he said.
Local car mechanic Dahiru Sadiq said he was at work when he heard the blasts, which sent him and his customers running for their lives.
“I can see smoke and flames across the road though I don’t know which building is on fire,” he said.
AFP
