Blast kills 32 people in a crowded Nigerian market

More than 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack in the northern Nigerian city of Yola.

The explosion took place at a fruit and vegetable market beside a main road in the Jimeta area of Adamawa's state capital, where traders were closing up on Tuesday night. The area, also housing a live stock market, was crowded with shoppers.

More than 80 people have been taken to hospital, some with serious injuries, emergency workers say.

“The explosion happened in the midst of a large crowd because the area houses a livestock market, an open-air eatery and a mosque”, Aliyu Maikano, a Red Cross official, explained.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but all evidences pointed to militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands over the last six years in its bid to create a state adhering to strict Sharia law.

BOKO HARAM “CLOSE TO BE DEFEATED”

Yola is situated in the north-eastern state of Adamawa, one of the worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency. It has twice been hit by deadly bomb attacks this year.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari visited Yola on Saturday, to decorate soldiers for bravery in the counter-insurgency and to visit a camp for people displaced by six years of violence that has resulted in at least 17,000 deaths.

He told troops that he believed Boko Haram “is very close to be defeated” and urged soldiers “to remain vigilant, alert and focused to prevent Boko Haram from sneaking into our communities to attack soft targets”. Tuesday’s blast was the first in Nigeria this month.