A suicide bomber on Friday evening detonated a bomb at a market in Gombe, killing at least six people and injuring 10 others, a police source has said.
The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency in Gombe State, Umar Shittu, told journalists that rescuers had recovered six bodies, adding that the casualty figure could be higher.
“Our workers have evacuated six bodies and 10 injured, and we believe there could be more bodies because the market is usually populated.”
The source, who craved anonymity, said the suicide bomber detonated a bomb around 6.30pm at Kasuwan Mata, a market close to the Gombe State University.
He said the explosive blew him apart and killed six other persons
Meanwhile, a policeman, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, claimed that what could have been a major disaster was averted by policemen in the state as a vehicle, where five high-calibre explosives were hidden, was intercepted on Friday afternoon in the state capital.
He said, “A vehicle was intercepted at Dadin Kowa road with five large explosives.”
According to him, the vehicle was loaded with furniture and other items for a marriage ceremony, “but the police on patrol became suspicious and stopped the vehicle for a search.
“The driver tried to bribe them with N200 which they refused and when they started searching, he attempted fleeing and was stopped in his track. On searching of the vehicle, the five explosives, well wrapped up and concealed, were uncovered.”
He added that the man was subsequently arrested.
