No fewer than 40 people, including five soldiers and a local hunter,
were reported to have been killed following a bomb explosion on Thursday
morning around Mararaba-Mubi area of Adamawa State.
Eyewitness told newsmen in Yola, the state capital, that a combined team
of the military and local hunters patrolling the area after they had successful
recaptured Mubi from the insurgents were mostly affected.
It was learnt that the bomb planted by the insurgents exploded and
killed the 40 people instantly.
According to the eyewitness, the scene of the blast was a busy area
where people returning to the town after the recaptured of Mubi gathered to do
one business or the other.
The source added that the explosive might have been planted by members
of the Boko Haram on the eve of the day and it went off while people, including
soldiers, gathered in the morning to strategise on their next line of action.
According to the eyewitness, who spoke to newsmen on the telephone, the
military had converted the venue of the blast to a checkpoint, since there was
always heavy presence of people at the spot most of the time.
“My house is some metres from the scene of the incident. I stood outside
my compound, watching the suburb. And all of a sudden, I heard a loud bang
which shook the entire surroundings.
“The few people that were returning to the area started fleeing and the
area was immediately cordoned off by the military,” he maintained.
The explosion prompted the military authorities to declare the area “a
no go place” and advised returning villagers and passersby to be extra cautious
along the routes.
The authorities also cautioned the people to be wary of strange objects
and polythene bags within their vicinity, advising that they might be
explosives fashioned out to look attractive for unknown victims.
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