Female bomber linked to Bauchi explosion

                   

A twin-bomb explosion occurred at a commercial bank in Azare town, Katagum Local Government Area in Bauchi State, on Friday, killing several people and injuring many others.

However, the state Police Command claimed that the explosion that rocked the first generation bank was carried out by suspected female suicide bomber.
According to a statement by the police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, “the scene of the incident was visited by the Commissioner of Police for on the spot assessment and to commiserate with casualties.
“So far, seven persons were confirmed dead while 10 others sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare, for medical attention, out of whom five were treated and discharged.
“The entire surroundings was cordoned off and swept by police explosive ordinance disposal unit (E.O.D).
“Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested with the assistance of members of the public while the case is under investigation. Monitoring continues with a view to curtail the menace,” he said.
However, said that 13 people died in the explosion while over 40 were injured.
An eyewitness account told Saturday Independent that the bomb blast occurred at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the bank as customers lined up to make withdrawals at around 9 a.m.
He said that eight people were killed on the spot but the death toll rose to 13 with over 40 injured.
According to him, most of those affected were Bauchi State workers who were waiting to collect their salary.
It was learnt that the device planted within the bank premises exploded as customers including workers and people from Misau, Shira, Giade and Potiskum in Yobe State lined up to make withdrawal.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “there are only three ATMs in three banks that are working in the whole of Azare and so, many customers usually gather there to withdraw money.”
He said two men walked up to the ATM and pretended to withdraw money and then dropped the object and left.
“As it exploded, killing many people on the ATM, another one exploded as people were running to the scene,” the eyewitness said.
The incident is coming exactly two weeks after another bomb exploded at a busy motor park in Azare, killing 12 persons and injuring 46 others.