The National Emergency Management Agency and Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed a bomb blast at one of the Internal Displaced Persons’ camps in Yola.
According to Sanni Datti, spokesman of the state’s emergency agency, the name of the camp was identified as Malkohi and he said its inhabitants are currently being evacuated.
There were conflicting reports of the death toll at the camp, one of several in the capital of Adamawa state housing men, women and children who have fled the brutal, six-year conflict.
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Adamawa state police spokesman Othman Abubakar told AFP two people were killed and seven injured, while the Red Cross’ Maikano put the toll at three dead and nine injured.
Suleiman Mohammed, director of response, relief and rehabilitation at the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), said five were killed and 20 injured.
The Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow, was reported as telling a meeting of northern governors that children were among the dead.
“There were NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) officials, IDPs and some from the AUN (American University of Nigeria)” among the casualties, said Mohammed.
Lionel Rawlings, head of security at the AUN, which is based in Yola, confirmed student volunteers were injured by flying debris.
“None was in direct contact with the explosion but there was flying shrapnel. We dodged the bullet,” he said.
Abubakar and Mohammed both said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device left by tents in the camp, which is just outside the city to the south and near an army base.
Security had been tight after hundreds of women and children held hostage by Boko Haram were brought to the camp after they were rescued by the military earlier this year.
Armed soldiers manned the gates and carried out checks on vehicles and passengers, AFP reporters witnessed on a visit to the camp in May.
“Our men are there,” said Abubakar. “They are trying to find if there are any other explosives.”
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