Many persons are feared killed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Monday, after two explosions went off at the Maiduguri main market, where two suicide bombers last week detonated deadly explosives, killing themselves and several other people.

The explosions sounded almost one after the other at about 11:20 am.

A witness, Abba Ibrahim, who works as a security guard at a government hospital near the market, told journalists that the thunderous blasts caused several traders to scamper to safety.

“As it is now, people are running for dear lives, so one cannot confirm to you the extent of damage, but the two blasts we just heard were too loud that it could cause more damage than the ones of last week,” he said.

A trader, Dauda Bala, who spoke with journalists on phone said, “The security and other aid workers are trying to evacuate the dead and injured persons from the scene of the explosion…I can’t say how many were killed or injured but I have seen very many victims dripping with blood, others with parts of their bodies dismembered by the blasts”.

Another witness at the market, who gave his name as Mallam Bashir, said the explosions were caused by two suspected female suicide bombers.

“The explosions occurred at the area where fowls are being sold inside the market, very close to the First Bank branch. Those close enough to the place said it was two girls who came into the market with the bombs,” said Mr. Bashir, a used cloth vendor.

The spokesperson of the Borno State Command of the Nigeria Police, Gideon Jubrin, confirmed the incident but said details were still sketchy. “Of course we heard the explosions somewhere in town but it will be too early now to say what actually happened and what damage was caused by the explosion until much later,” he said.