Boko Haram is being blamed for a deadly blast in the northeastern Nigerian city of Yola on Tuesday night. Al Jazeera reports that the tragedy took place alongside the main road of a fruit and vegetable market in the Jimeta area of Adamawa’s state capital. The space doubles as a live stock market, so it was pretty crowded during the time of the bombing. At least 32 people have died and more than 80 are hurt.
Shop owner, Alhaji Ahmed, witnessed the disaster and described to the Reuters news agency the horrors that he saw. “The ground near my shop was covered with dead bodies. I helped to load 32 dead bodies into five vehicles,” he said. No one has come forth to claim responsibility for the massacre, but considering Boko Haram has attacked Yola with bombs and other frightening devices in their attempts to create an Islamic state, all fingers are pointing to them.
The National Emergency Management Agency reported that a blast occurred on October 24th in Yola where 27 people died during a Friday afternoon prayer. Earlier that day in the city of Maiduguri, which is said to be the birthplace of the armed group Boko Haram, another suicide bomber attacked a mosque which left 28 people killed. Just last Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari visited Yola in order to decorate the soldiers who fought against Boko Haram and told them that the militant group is “very close to defeat”. He urged his men to stay alert and vigilant so that Boko Haram will not harm their communities again.
Just to let you know, Facebook has activated it’s safety check for citizens living in the affected areas. Now, roommates, we know that it has been a very tough week for the world. The Paris attacks and now the Nigeria bombing, among other events that we don’t even get to hear about. Keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers! There’s more power in unity than picking and choosing who to feel sorry for.
#PrayforNigeria
Source Cited: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/nigeria-market-bombing-151117213718605.html
TSR Intern: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
