A bomb explosion has hit an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs’, camp located at a Warehouse in Molkohi, Yola Local Government Area of Adamawa State killing at least two persons.
Confirming the bomb attack on the IDPs to DAILY POST, a top source in the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said Boko Haram insurgents are suspected to be behind the attack, adding that the casualty figure is yet to be ascertained as they are trying to establish contact get more details on the incident.
A Red Cross official, Aliyu Maikano, noted that the state police confirmed the blast categorically disclosing that: “There was a blast at Malkohi IDPs (internally displaced persons) camp in Yola around 11 o’clock this morning (1000 GMT)”.
Meanwhile, there are conflicting reports about the death toll at the affected camp in Yola which housed men, women and children who have fled the brutal, six-year conflict.
Adamawa state police spokesman, Othman Abubakar told AFP that two people were killed and seven injured, while the Red Cross’ Maikano put the toll at three dead and nine injured.
But the director of response, relief and rehabilitation at the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Suleiman Mohammed, said five were killed and 20 injured.
The Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow, was said to have told a meeting of northern governors that children were among the dead.
“There were NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) officials, IDPs and some from the AUN (American University of Nigeria)” among the casualties, said Mohammed.
The head of security at the AUN, Lionel Rawlings, which is based in Yola, confirmed student volunteers were injured by flying debris.
“None was in direct contact with the explosion but there was flying shrapnel. We dodged the bullet,” he said.
Abubakar and Mohammed both said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device left by tents in the camp, which is just outside the city to the south and near an army base.
Security had been tight after hundreds of women and children held hostage by Boko Haram were brought to the camp after they were rescued by the military earlier this year.
Armed soldiers manned the gates and carried out checks on vehicles and passengers, AFP reporters witnessed on a visit to the camp in May.
“Our men are there,” said Abubakar adding that: “They are trying to find if there are any other explosives.”
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