20 killed in bus station explosion in Nigeria

At least 20 bodies have so far been recovered at the scene of an explosion which rocked a bus station Monday on the outskirts of Gombe, the capital of Nigeria's northeastern state by the same name, the Red Cross said.

The explosion occurred at a motor park in Dukku area of the northern state, which shares a border with Yobe and Borno states, two of the most terror-hit provinces known as Boko Haram's stronghold in the northeastern region of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, Xinhua reported citing Abubakar Gome of the Red Cross in Gombe.

"We (the Red Cross) have mobilised 20 body bags and they have all been exhausted. We are still looking for more bodies among the carnage," the official told reporters in the northern state.

A security source said the explosive went off at the bus station as two vehicles filled with passengers were about to leave. The source, who sought anonymity, said at least 60 people, including 20 minors, were injured.

Some of the injured were rushed to the Gombe State Specialists Hospital, while others were referred to a federal medical centre in the metropolis, for adequate treatment.

The attack was blamed on Boko Haram, a militant group which has proved to be a major security threat in the West African country since 2009. The group seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in Nigeria.

Last month, a similar blast at the state-run Gombe Line motor park claimed scores of lives.