Maiduguri, Nigeria: An explosion targeted a passenger-filled taxi in northeastern Nigeria's largest city on Wednesday, killing at least seven in the deadliest bombing there in several months, officials and witnesses said.
Six people were killed at the scene and another died at a hospital, said Bello Dambatta, an emergency response official. The National Emergency Management Agency said on Twitter that 15 injured people were receiving treatment.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
The blast occurred as the taxi approached a gas station. The bodies of victims were sprawled on the ground next to the bombed-out vehicle as officials inspected the area.
It was unclear if a bomb had been planted in the taxi or if a passenger detonated explosives.
Northeastern Nigeria is the epicenter of the Boko Haram extremist group's seven-year uprising that has claimed more than 20,000 lives. Maiduguri city had been spared deadly bombings in recent months as soldiers were able to shoot suicide attackers before they reached their targets.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently painted an optimistic picture of the military campaign against Boko Haram. In a speech on Oct. 1 marking the anniversary of the country's independence from Britain, he said the insurgent group "was defeated" in December and that residents of the northeast enjoyed "relative safety" as they went about their daily lives.
"Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear," the president said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six people were killed at the scene and another died at a hospital, said Bello Dambatta, an emergency response official. The National Emergency Management Agency said on Twitter that 15 injured people were receiving treatment.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
The blast occurred as the taxi approached a gas station. The bodies of victims were sprawled on the ground next to the bombed-out vehicle as officials inspected the area.
Northeastern Nigeria is the epicenter of the Boko Haram extremist group's seven-year uprising that has claimed more than 20,000 lives. Maiduguri city had been spared deadly bombings in recent months as soldiers were able to shoot suicide attackers before they reached their targets.
Advertisement
"Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear," the president said.
Advertisement
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Three Suicide Bombers Kill 18 People In Northeast Nigeria's Maiduguri: Police At Least Two Dead In Nigeria Suicide Attack Nigerian Girls, Age 8, Blow Themselves Up In Market, Injuring 17 Tear Gas Fired After Kolkata Protest Against Doctor's Rape-Murder Turns Violent 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing "Freedom Fighters Would Not Have Dreamt...": AAP's Atishi On Arvind Kejriwal 5 Big Highlights Of PM Modi's Independence Day Speech In Touch With India Over Bangladesh Political Crisis: US State Department Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.