The incident took place at about 9:30a.m., just before business peak period.
Reports indicated that the explosion was caused by a suspected female suicide bomber, who was about 20 years old.
Sources said the death toll may rise, following the severe injuries inflicted on the people at the scene of the incident.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons, said he counted 15 dead bodies at the scene, while unspecified number of persons were wounded before they were conveyed to hospital for treatment.
Reports said the female suicide bomber detonated the bomb at the entrance of the Sunday market, near sugar cane sellers in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
“A girl of around 20 blew herself up at the entrance of Sunday Market in Damaturu, near sugar cane and chicken sellers,” said Mallam Samaila Audu, who witnessed the blast.
A trader, Bukar Saliu, said another intending female suicide bomber, who managed to make her way into the market before she was spotted by local vigilante, had to be shot before she confessed that there were three of them on a mission to cause multiple blasts.
Saliu said: “The woman, who was injured by the gunshot, later confessed to the security operatives that they were three sent by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
“The woman confessed that their third colleague was asked to take her explosives to the hospital with the intention of detonating them when people gather to see the expected casualties from the market bombings.
“When the security people rushed to the hospital, they were able to identify the woman and disarm her.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the North East of the country had been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram extremists.
The atrocity came a week after some suicide bombers, including a woman, attacked a police checkpoint near the city, living three policemen and the suicide bombers dead.
A police officer at the scene of the blast, said he counted 12 bodies shortly after the attack, but that the toll later rose to 15.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Yobe State command, ASP Toyin Gbadegesin, who confirmed the incident, said a female suicide bomber of about 10 years old detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, at the main entrance of the market.
Gbadegesin, who confirmed that the incident occurred Sunday around 9:30 in the morning, said at the moment 15 people were killed, while 47 others were receiving treatment at the Sani Abacha Specialists Hospital, Damaturu.
He said five units of undetonated IED were recovered from the scene of the blast and cautioned people to be careful with people carrying bags.
According to him, the militants have resorted to using bags in conveying their explosive devices.
At the scene of the blast, it was learnt that there was high security presence, while a combined rescue team of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Red Cross, among other volunteers, were on ground to evacuate the dead and take the injured to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has condemned the blast, describing it as callous, barbaric and unjustifiable.
He, therefore, called on security agencies in the state to step up surveillance and urged the people to remain very vigilant about happenings in their areas and report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest security point.
Tags
Crime