Bomber hits Bauchi market, casualties unknown

Less than eight hours after a female suicide bomber detonated explosives at the Dukku motor park in Gombe, another blast has rocked Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at about 5.30pm Monday at a market place in the town.
Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Maohammed, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday, said he had yet to be briefed on the bombing.

A rescue team source who pleaded anonymity said though he could not tell the number of casualties, ''The whole place is littered with human bodies and parts. You know this market is very big and always crowded''.

He however said  that some of the victims  have been rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital(ATBUTH) for medical attention.

The atmosphere in the state capital is that of fear, and anxiety and all shops and business centres closed while  the streets have been deserted.

Though details of the market explosion are still sketchy as  the police are yet to make any official statement regarding the incident, Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda has condemned in strong terms the Monday evening bomb blast around the Central Market in Bauchi town.

He described it as a most unfortunate and barbaric incident aimed at disrupting the absolute peace the State is enjoying.

The Governor, according to a press statement signed and issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Deacon Ishola Michael Adeyemi, condemned the perpetrators of the heinous act describing them as cowards who are always happy in splitting innocent blood without any justification.

He however reassured the people of the State that his administration will not relent in its efforts to ensure that lives and properties of law abiding citizens were protected at all cost adding that the administration has always collaborated with security agents to maintain peace and peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the State.

While sympathizing with all those who lost their loved ones in the dastardly attack, the Governor assured that government will ensure that the perpetrators of the criminal act were promptly apprehended and brought to book to be dealt with in accordance with the relevant laws of the country and wish all those injured quick recovery.

He then reassured the people of the State that the security agents are working round the clock to avert future occurrence of such acts within the state and urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any questionable character to security agents for prompt action.