118 killed in Nigeria's twin blasts(Lead)

Image
IANS Lagos
Last Updated : May 21 2014 | 9:56 AM IST

As many as 118 people were killed in the twin blasts that hit a market in the central city of Jos, security agencies said.

"The death toll stands at 118. This is the number of victims recovered from the scene of the explosions, but we are still searching through the smoldering debris for more bodies," Nigerian Tribune quoted Mohammed Abdulsalam, coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency in the city, as saying.

The blast occurred Tuesday afternoon.

He said the casualty figures were collated after visits to Plateau Specialist Hospital and Bingham Hospital, Jos.

Earlier, Olakpe described the blasts as "terrorist activities," but refused to speculate on who might be responsible.

President Goodluck Jonathan in a statement condemned the bombings as a "tragic assault on human freedom" and described those behind them as "cruel and evil".

According to Police Commissioner Chris Olakpe, the first bomber came in a fiat bus and parked at the market's central business area. The second blast happened 100 metres from the first and that one was contained in a Siena bus, Xinhua quoted the police chief as saying.

According to an earlier repiort, at least 46 people were killed and 45 injured.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 21 2014 | 9:50 AM IST

Next Story