At least 12 feared dead in Nigeria market blast: security source

At least 12 people were feared dead Tuesday when a blast went off in a livestock market in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, capital of the restive Borno State, a security source and witness said.

Mostly local traders were affected in the bomb blast at Gamboru, a big market in the city, the security source who preferred to be anonymous told Xinhua.

According to the source, the bomb was buried under a large table used by one of the local traders at the market. It exploded while business was thick and immediately killed at least 12 people, the source added.

Abba Mohammed, member of a local vigilant group who witnessed the incident, said rescue workers had promptly arrived to evacuate victims of the blast.

Mohammed described the incident as "devastating" and blamed it on Boko Haram, a terror group proving to be a hard nut to crack in the most populous African country.

Tuesday's attack came after two previous weekend attacks in Maiduguri, the known headquarters of Boko Haram, since new president Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in last Friday.

During his inaugural speech, Buhari had ordered the relocation of Nigeria's defense headquarters to Maiduguri until Boko Haram was subdued.

The Nigerian leader will on Wednesday embark on his first official trip to neighboring countries, Niger and Chad, to seek and renew their governments' cooperation in ending the insecurity caused by Boko Haram. Enditem