A Red Cross official said who wish to stay anonymous told Bloom Gist that he have 30 bodies in bags and is sure there are more out there.
A National Emergency Management Agency official also confirmed to Bloom Gist that the attacks had taken place and many people were hurt.
Bloom Gist Onyeka Uju, reporting from Abuja, quoted witnesses as saying that "there was an incredible amount of panic" at the market following the attack.
Reports said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which went off around 16:30 GMT, but they bore the hallmarks of attacks by Boko Haram.
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| Reports said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack in Damaturu |
"I was about 70 metres from the scene" when the first blast struck, Badamasi Amin, a local trader, told AFP.
"I and many other people rushed to assist the victims. While we were trying to attend to the wounded, another blast happened outside a china shop just opposite the footwear shop.
"Several people were killed and many more were injured," he added.
Ali Nasiru, another trader, said he saw "people lying lifeless on the ground".
"Traders and shoppers helped in evacuating the victims to the hospital," he said. "I can't say how many people were affected but there are many."
President Muhammadu Buhari has made crushing the armed group his top priority, but hundreds have been killed in bombings and shootings since he was inaugurated on May 29.
Nigeria Army Confirms the death of 50 people
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of 50 persons in two separate bomb explosions in Damaturu, Yobe, on Friday morning.
This was made known through a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the acting-director of army public relations, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the explosions occurred at screening areas of the Eid prayer ground.
According Sani Usman, many other persons were injured in the explosions suspected to have been masterminded by insurgents.
“This is to confirm that there were two suicide bomb explosions today at about 7:40 a.m. in Damaturu, Yobe, in which two female suicide bombers – one elderly woman and a ten year-old girl -detonated the devices,” Mr. Usman said. “It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshipers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.”
Sani Usman said 43 persons died in the first explosion while seven people died in the second explosion.
The army spokesperson assured the public that the relevant authorities had brought the situation under control.
He assured that no amount of terrorist act would deter the Nigerian Army’s resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.
Witnesses in the area, including a police officer who did not speak officially, had claimed that the attacks were carried out by two little girls.
Earlier reports from a source in a hospital at Damaturu had confirmed 10 dead.
This was made known through a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the acting-director of army public relations, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the explosions occurred at screening areas of the Eid prayer ground.
According Sani Usman, many other persons were injured in the explosions suspected to have been masterminded by insurgents.
“This is to confirm that there were two suicide bomb explosions today at about 7:40 a.m. in Damaturu, Yobe, in which two female suicide bombers – one elderly woman and a ten year-old girl -detonated the devices,” Mr. Usman said. “It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshipers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.”
Sani Usman said 43 persons died in the first explosion while seven people died in the second explosion.
The army spokesperson assured the public that the relevant authorities had brought the situation under control.
He assured that no amount of terrorist act would deter the Nigerian Army’s resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.
Witnesses in the area, including a police officer who did not speak officially, had claimed that the attacks were carried out by two little girls.
Earlier reports from a source in a hospital at Damaturu had confirmed 10 dead.
