The Punch has reported that no fewer than 13 people died and 40 others injured when a twin-bomb explosion occurred at a commercial bank in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Friday
Though the police could not give casualty figure, unconfirmed source said 13 people died in the explosions while 40 were injured.
The police spokesman, Mohammad Haruna, did not pick calls to his mobile telephone for confirmation.
The source said bomb blasts occurred at the Automated Teller Machine of the bank as customers were queuing to make withdrawals at around 9am on Friday.
He said two men walked up to the ATM and pretended to be queuing to withdraw money from the ATM, dropped an object shortly after and hurriedly left the scene. An explosion followed.
As people hurried to assist the victims, another blast rocked the area, killing higher number of people.
The eyewitness added that eight people were killed on the spot but the death toll rose to 13 with over 40 injured.
According to him, most of the people affected are Bauchi State workers, who were waiting to collect their salaries.
It was further learnt that the device was planted within the bank premises and exploded as customers, including workers and people from Misau, Shira, Giade and Potiskum in Yobe State, lined up at the bank to withdraw their salaries.
A source said, “There are only three ATM in three banks that are working in the whole of Azare so many customers usually gather there.
“As it exploded, killing many people around the ATM, another one exploded as people were running to the scene.”
The incident followed another explosion in the state two weeks ago when a suicide bomber attacked a busy motor park in Azare, killing 12 people and injuring 46 others
Source: Punch