Vanguard reports that a girl believed to be 10 years old executed a suicide bombing attack at a popular market/motor park in Damaturu, Yobe State capital on Saturday, killing seven while leaving at least 31 injured, witnesses said.
The sad incident happens on a day Boko Haram Islamists revealed the recapturing of a strategic town in Borno State.
“A girl aged about 10 detonated an explosive under her clothes as she approached the market’s perimeter fence,” said Danbaba Nguru, a shopkeeper who witnessed the attack.
Dr Garba Fika, head of the local Sani Abacha General Hospital, said 6 bodies and 32 injured arrived there with one person dying after initial admission.
“I was in the station when I saw the young girl arrive,” said bus driver Musbahu Lawan.
“I think she noticed the guards checking people at the gates and decided to detonate the explosive in the middle of the crowd outside the gates.”
Nguru added: “The road leading to the gates is always full of small traders… I was lucky not to have been hit.”
Islamist group Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but the jihadist have often used young girls to carry out suicide attacks.