Fifty seven people were killed on Friday in twin blasts that rocked Madagali Market, Adamawa State.
One hundred and seventy seven others were injured, 57 of them in critical condition.
Mr. Yusuf Muhammed, Chairman, Madagali Local Government, Adamawa, confirmed the casualties on Friday
He said the critically injured were rushed to Mubi General Hospital and Yola Specialists Hospital, while those that sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged .
The Madagali Market operates on Fridays and the two blasts occurred at the grains and second hand clothes sections of the market.
The Madagali blast was coming nearly a year after a similar blast in the market which occurred on December 20, 2015.
The council boss appealed to the federal, state governments, relevant donors and humanitarian agencies to come to the aid of the people.
He said such a gesture would help them in alleviating the pain and loss from the blasts.
Major Badare Akintoye, the Public Relations Officer of 28 Task Force Brigade, Nigerian Army, Mubi, also confirmed the figure.
Akintoye said that the blasts were caused by two female teenage bombers.
Akintoye said many others were injured and receiving treatment at Mubi and Michika general hospitals.
A statement on the incident by NEMA Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr Sani Datt, which did not give number of dead persons, stated that 67 people were injured.
Adamawa Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, condemned the incident.
Sajoh said Governor Muhammadu Bindow has directed all relevant agencies to mobilise and move to render support to the affected.
He said government would take responsibility of the medical bills of those affected, adding that reports reaching him indicated that four of the 67 injured had passed away.
In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of victims of the twin bomb blasts.
The President also condoled with the Government and people of the state over the unfortunate incident, assuring them that they are not alone as the rest of nation mourns this grave loss with them.
Buhari restated that “putting an end to this senseless loss of innocent lives remains a top priority of this administration” adding that, “over the past few weeks, the Nigerian military have made significant advancements in an offensive aimed at slamming the final nail in the coffin of Boko Haram.”
According to him, “This latest attack is obviously an act of desperation, but the Nigerian military will neither be distracted nor relent.”
Buhari used the opportunity to urge Nigerians to be more vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to the nearest security and law enforcement agency.
“The battle against terrorism is a joint effort involving all citizens, both government and governed. Together, Nigerians can and will defeat the evil that is Boko Haram,” he declared.
The President prayed that God will comfort the bereaved families in a way that only He can, while wishing the injured speedy recovery.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the bomb blast.
He also proposed intelligence surge to avert such horrendous attacks and greater vigilance on the part of citizens, especially in the liberated communities.
In a statement on his behalf by his media office, the former Vice President expressed his deepest grief and regret over such heartless disregard for human life by terrorists, and explains that indiscriminate mass murderers should not be allowed to defeat humanity and impose their reign of terror on the people.
According to the former Vice President, the Boko Haram terrorists still pose a real threat, adding that the country must redouble its efforts and unite against them.
Atiku urged greater vigilance on the part of citizens and increased intelligence, as the military ramps up its operations against Boko Haram insurgents.
He said he was highly embarrassed that these terrorists are hiding behind religious ideology to commit atrocities against innocent people, despite the fact that Islam, and indeed any other religion prohibits the murder of innocent people.
The Turakin Adamawa regretted that the Boko Haram bandits have virtually crippled Northern economy and disrupted its social life.
He called on the Federal Government to redouble its efforts, even as he proposed an intelligence surge in the war against terrorism, adding that the militants have contempt for peace and, therefore, should be fiercely confronted.
He also called for greater vigilance among members of the civil population in order to identify and frustrate suicide bombers in their tracks.
The former Vice President condoled the families of the victims and survivors of the blast as well as the Adamawa State Government.
He urged that no efforts should be spared towards providing medical treatment for the scores of injured.
“To the people of Madagali in my home state of Adamawa, affected by the bomb blast today (Friday), we are praying for you.
“Our people will not be bowed by terrorists. We must keep up our vigilance and increase intelligence even in liberated communities.”






















