Bomb Blasts kill 30 in Jos, 13yrs girl on suicide mission caught

At least 31 people were killed in a double bombing in the Nigerian city of Jos on Thursday, while a 13-year-old girl putting on an explosives vest was arrested in the northern city of Kano.

The blasts in Jos happened at a makeshift market near the Terminus bus station, which had been set up after a twin car bomb attack in May that left at least 118 people dead.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, NEMA coordinator, said the scene of the blast was a densely populated area.

“The bodies recovered so far are 31 but rescue workers are at the scene and the figures may change,” added Pam Ayuba, spokesman for the Plateau state governor Jonah Jang.

‘Would-be bomber’ Arrested

In Kano, a senior security source and a nurse said a 13-year-old was arrested on Wednesday after she and a male accomplice walked into a clinic seeking medical treatment.

The location of the clinic — some 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the scene of a double suicide attack by two women on a textile market just hours earlier — raised suspicions.

“We alerted the police who immediately mobilised and arrested the duo,” said one nurse, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

“On searching her, the police discovered explosives hidden under her hijab, confirming our suspicion. They took her and the man accompanying her away.”

The senior security source said the young girl was from the northeastern state of Bauchi and had been part of the “suicide team” that attacked the busy Kantin Kwari textile bazaar.

“Her arrest is a huge breakthrough in unravelling the spate of suicide attacks by young girls in the city,” the source added.