Twin Blasts Kill 17, Wound 35 in Potiskum

At least 17 people, including suicide bombers, died in two bomb blasts that went off in Potiskum, the capital of Yobe State, a security source has told SaharaReporters.
One of the blasts happened close to 7.30 p.m. (Nigerian time) yesterday at a mosque near the palace of the Emir of Potiskum, the town’s traditional ruler. The second explosion went off a few minutes later at another mosque, Sakafa Mosque for All Muslim Brothers, in same town, according to our security source.
A resident of the town, Umar Suleiman, told our correspondent, “the bomber targeted the evening prayer time for Muslims.” According to him, the bombers “drove a car with explosive devices near the mosque and detonated it while the second explosion was thrown into another mosque some minutes later.”
Our sources said that at least 17 people died, including the attackers. Close to 40 people sustained varying degrees of injury, our sources revealed.

A police source, who had visited the Potiskum General Hospital, said, “17 dead bodies and 35 injured persons were brought in on Tuesday night.” He added that many victims were “critically injured.”
Meanwhile Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has condemned the attacks. He also called on the people of his state to cooperate with security agencies to combat the extremist Islamist elements responsible for the deadly attacks.