5 killed, 15 injured as Suicide Bomber hits motor park in Gombe

An explosion near a bus station in Gombe killed at least five people and injured 15 others, on Thursday.

“We had an explosion outside the motor park  this evening around 8:30pm which killed five people and injured 15 others,” Muhammad Garkuwa, a drivers’ union official confirmed to the AFP.

“The explosion was from an explosive left by a woman in her handbag beside a bus waiting to convey passengers to Jos,” he said in an account supported by a nearby food seller.

Garkuwa said he loaded the casualties into a vehicle while Yusuf Darazo, who sells food near the bus station, said the female suspect left her bag after being told the bus’s destination.

“No-one suspected her. People around assumed she was making calls before the bus filled up,” he said.

“As she was talking in the phone she moved away from the bus towards a row of kiosks, as if she wanted to buy something, leaving her bag where she was standing.

“She disappeared and the bag exploded soon after, setting the bus on fire. I saw five dead and several injured.” he explained.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday vowed to crush Boko Haram, vowing to rid Nigeria of the scourge of “terrorism”.