25 people died in Maiduguri on Bomb Blasts

Witnesses said at least three separate bombs went off at the open drinking joint, scattering the tents in the vicinity.

No one announced responsibility for yesterday’s blasts, but the incident bore the hallmark of the Boko Haram sect, which had been launching deadly gun raids and bombings in Borno State for over a year.

MR. Okon, who sells bush meat around the area, said the joint was filled to capacity because of the weekend when the bombs went off.

“It is Sunday and many people were here to while away the time,” he said. “More than 1,000 people were caught unawares and I can assure you that the casualty figure will be much more than 25.”

Hannatu Musa, a middle aged woman also selling beer at the open space, said she escaped by the whiskers. “I went to my house to bring more beer to my joint… that was what saved me, I saw many corpses in my joint,” she said.

There was pandemonium in the area when most of the people scampered for safety after the loud sound of the first blast.

Military and police officials confirmed the attack on condition of anonymity because they have not been authorized to speak.

“You know that the new Joint Task Force…is now in charge of the operation as such only the official spokesman of the task force can talk,” a police official said.

“Many people died because they ran into the scenes of the blasts while searching for escape routes,” a police sergeant who was mobilized to the area said.

Dozens of shops were razed down at the tavern as a result of fire ignited by the bombs.