A bomb-laden truck Tuesday exploded in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing over 50 persons, including 16 members of the Vigilante Youth group, a.k.a Civilian JTF.
About 68 persons were also injured in the attack which occurred around the busy Elkanemi roundabout near Monday market in the capital city aftera suspected member of the Boko Haram sect detonated the bomb.
“A van loaded with charcoal and IED exploded at Monday Market in Maiduguri this morning. The location has been cordoned,” PM News reports, citing the twitter account of the defence minister’s office.
Although, the Chairman of the Vigilante Youth a.k.a Civilian JTF attached to Sector 3, Mallam Iliya Saidu while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima said, his men were able to identify 9 of his members that died in the blast, but the Chairman of Monday Market Traders Association, Alhaji Bukar Jere while giving the breakdown of the number of casualty to the Governor when he visited the scene insisted that 16 Civilian JTF were among the dozens of people killed.
“16 civilian JTF were among those killed in the blast, while 69 sustained serious injuries,” the Manager Maiduguri Monday market said, briefing Governor Kashim Shettima at the scene of the blast.
According to him, 4 vehicle and four tricycles, popularly called ‘KEKE NAPEP’ were burnt in the blast, adding that the incident also affected 49 shops and Wares displayed by the petty traders on the road side.