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Heavy casualties were feared Tuesday afternoon when improvised explosive devices were suspected to have been detonated by a suicide bomber at a commercial area in Maiduguri, capital of northeast Nigeria's Borno State, sources told Xinhua.
The explosion occurred right in front of a large military post called JTF Sector 4, near the post office area in the city center at exactly 2 p.m. local time, sources said.
It was suspected to be a perpetration of Boko Haram, a sect which has proved to be a major security threat in the West African country for more than four years now, according to a security source on rescue mission at the place of the incident.
Although the casualties were yet to be confirmed by state officials as of the time of filing this report, a heavy death toll was expected due to the magnitude of the attack, said another source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Many private businesses and government offices are located in the commercial area where the incident occurred.
Despite the nationwide public holiday declared by the government of the West African country in celebration of the birthday of Muslim's Prophet Mohammed, commercial activities were at their peak at the time of the incident on Tuesday afternoon, adding to the fear that the incident might have claimed many lives.
Many people were injured in the bomb blast and more victims sustained injuries in multiple vehicular accidents that occurred thereafter as people in the area scampered for safety, according to sources.
Blood-soaked bodies were found in different corners of the area as security operatives rescued more people in a pool of blood, said Musa Garba, a local journalist who also witnessed the incident.
Security operatives, shooting sporadically in the air, arrived the scene minutes after the incident to cordon off the area, he added.
The Post Office area of Maiduguri, which is located in the heart of the city, had witnessed many attacks in the five-year insurgency of the Boko Haram sect.
On 15 Oct., 2012, an explosion which occurred in the same area claimed at least 10 lives.
Borno State is a flashpoint of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram since 2009, when the sect launched its insurgency targeting churches, security facilities, schools and villages.
