An estimated 30 people were killed in Borno northeast of Nigerian after an improvised explosive device [IED] detonated on a bridge, sources told Reuters on Monday.
The bomb detonated at roughly 5 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on a crowded bridge in the market town of Gamboru that leads into neighboring Cameroon.
Witnesses in the market town said more than 35 injured people were taken to the local hospital following the explosion.
An eye witness Modu Ali told Reuters News agency that “It is an unfortunate day for us to witness this frustrating and devastating incident in our community,”
“I just heard a loud sound of explosions, before I realized I saw many of our friends and colleagues were killed,”
A military spokesman said he would provide comment later in the evening.
Two sources with the Civilian Joint Task Force, a group of citizens formed to fight Boko Haram, confirmed the attack and the early death toll estimates.
No group immediately took responsibility. Both Boko Haram and the regional offshoot of Islamic State, ISWAP, are active in the area with the attack leaving behind trademarks of the ISWAP style of attacks in recent times.
(C) Control TV 2020