Death toll of Maiduguri multiple blasts rises to 16

The death toll of the multiple blasts that rocked the Nigerian northeastern city of Maiduguri, has risen to 16, officials said.

The city was recently bombed by Islamic insurgents. One of the explosives was said to have landed in a field where some boys were playing football at Gwange axis, killing at at least nine boys.

The dead toll was previously put at 10, but according to Babakura Kolo, the leader of a self-defence militia, the dead toll has risen to 16.

“The death toll has risen to 16,” Kolo said.

“Initially four died but five more died from the serious injuries they sustained from the explosion.”

Another militiaman, Umar Ari, gave the same death toll and said it could still rise as many were injured.

APF quoted an eyewitness Sama’ila Ibrahim haven said the jihadists crossed the ditch fortification around Maiduguri, sending residents scrambling for safety with sporadic shooting.

“The destruction, done using improvised explosive devices, has left populated Maiduguri in darkness for nearly one month now,” the local governor’s office said in a statement.