(Reuters) — At least 71 people were killed and 124 injured in an explosion which rocked Nyanyan Motor Park in the outskirts of Abuja, capital of the Nigeria early Monday morning, according to local authorities.
Eyewitnesses said that a suicide bomber drove a red station wagon into Nyanyan Motor Park and detonated a bomb which hit luxury buses and other vehicles.
Many residents living in the outskirts of Abuja usually take small buses or motorcycles to neighboring bus terminals, such as the one hit by the explosion, to catch government buses into the downtown area for work.
Anthony Kaban, one of the witnesses, said that the explosion occurred at around 06:25.
Police, fire engines and ambulances arrived at the explosion site around half an hour later.
Kaban said that at the time passengers and residents rushed in to help the victims, adding that that many victims were caught in the fire.
Kaban called on the country to do something to ensure the public’s security, saying that people are scared, especially in light of the upcoming elections. He said that he hopes security will be increased.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials blamed the explosion on Boko Haram, a sect which has been responsible for major killings in the West African country since 2009.
Nigeria, with a population of approximately 170 million, is facing major security challenges which are crippling economic activities in some states. The northern part of the country is plagued by violence, including attacks by the Boko Haram sect. The southern part is said to be a hub of criminal activities including oil theft or bunkering, kidnap and armed robberies.
