A female suicide bomber said to be about 10 years old yesterday blew up herself and six others at the jam packed Abacha market, Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
Thirty-three other people were wounded, some critically, in the attack.
The victims were mostly hawkers selling smoked fish and sachet water at the exit to the Damaturu Central Motor Park.
The wounded were rushed to the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital for treatment, according to the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Garba Fika.
One of the early sympathisers at the medical facility was Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.
He was briefed on the conditions of the victims.
The attack bore the signature of Boko Haram, which has increased its attacks in the last one week in the state and neighbouring Borno following weeks of reverses inflicted by the army.
Suspected terrorists of Boko Haram penultimate Friday attacked the College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum in Yobe State.
One of them blew up himself after policemen, assisted by staff and students of the institution frustrated his effort to unleash terror.
His two accomplices were arrested.
Another gang of terrorists retook Marte, about 112 kilometers from Maiduguri on Friday.
Simultaneously, some others launched a quick strike on Mule on the outskirts of Maiduguri, less than 48 hours after an aborted attack on the Giwa Army barracks in the Borno State capital during which 12 people died.
Two other raids earlier in the week on Bale and Kayamla by Boko Haram insurgents had claimed 55 lives.
Doctors and nurses were seen at the emergency ward of the Sani Abacha battling to save victims of yesterday’s suicide bombing.
An official appealed for blood donation for the victims.
Dr Fika told Gaidam that he and his team were trying their best and might refer some of the patients to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru or Azare in Bauchi State if necessary.
The governor said government would foot the bill of all the victims.
He described the attack as unfortunate and said the country would overcome the terror menace.
Consequent upon yesterday’s attack, the authorities shut down the Abacha Market.
Security personnel asked buyers and sellers to leave the area immediately.
A security source told The Nation that they needed to sweep the market and determine that there is no left over of any explosive device before the market can be reopened for business.
