ABOUT 30 people were killed by suspected teenage female suicide bombers who infiltrated Madagali market in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The twin-blast also led to the injuring of over 57 people who were receiving medical attention as at press time.
According to a reliable source, the suicide bombers had posed as school children and struck when business was at its peak in the market.
The source claimed that the bombers detonated their wired IEDs simultaneously.
The source said: “For sometimes, peace has returned to Madagali and business activities have started picking up. In fact, many displaced persons have returned home.
“It was sad that these two young girls took advantage of the booming market to kill many people. We cannot say whether or not they came from Madagali or from Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram leaders have been operating from.
“The explosions caught all of us unawares because we have been enjoying since the Army liberated this town from the insurgents.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The basic security challenge in Madagali is that it is surrounded by make-shift camps of Boko Haram insurgents who are running away from soldiers.”
PRNigeria, the military alternate media outreach, said: “Twin bomb-explosions hit a crowded market in Madagali, a town in Adamawa State in North-East Nigeria.
“According to a rescue worker drafted to the scene, the explosions occurred yesterday morning in a town that is close to the Sambisa Forest.
“Security personnel have cordoned the scene of the explosions while officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other health workers have evacuated victims to hospitals.
“While the level of casualty is yet to be officially confirmed, PRNigeria gathered that Nigerian troops have in recent weeks invaded various parts of dreaded Sambisa Forest used by Boko Haram terrorists as their major hideouts for their training and camping.
“In the ongoing operation Lafiya Dole of the military, many armed terrorists have been killed while captives and abductees, especially women and children have been rescued.
“Madagali town was seized by Boko Haram in August 2014, but was recaptured by Nigerian troops on March 12, 2015.
The Army Public Relations Officer (APRO) for 28 Task For Battalion in Mubi, Major Badare Akintoye, confirmed the explosions.
He said 30 people were killed and 57 others injured.
He said: “The attack in Madagali was carried out by two female school children. They detonated two bombs at the same time, killing 30 people and they also died.”
“Based on the report before me from our men working on ground, 30 were killed and 57 people were also injured during the attacks.
“Security agents have taken over the area to avoid enemies coming in to cause another attack,” he stated.
The Chairman of the Madagali Local Government, Yusuf Muhammad, urged the Federal Government to deploy soldiers in the surrounding areas because of the camps being set up Boko Haram in the area.
