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Kano — At least 20 people were killed on Monday when a young female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a bus station in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria, in an attack likely to be blamed on Boko Haram.

The blast happened near a fish market in the Baga Road area of the city, which has been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks by shelling, bombs and suicide attacks.

“We heard a loud explosion at about 1550hrs while we were preparing for afternoon prayers,” said Danlami Ajaokuta, a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram.

“It happened right inside the motor park [bus station] attached to the fish market where labourers were sorting out rice.”

He said that according to survivors’ accounts, a woman came into the bus station with a casserole dish, shouting out for customers. “Suddenly, the casserole, which obviously contained explosives, went off. She was blown to pieces . . . We’ve sorted out 20 dead bodies and 50 others that were injured.”

Ajaokuta’s account was supported by a labourer working at the scene who survived the blast, which sent people running in all directions in fear and panic.

“The rescue operation is still on, so the death toll may be higher at the end,” said the labourer, who asked not to be identified.

The police however gave a lower toll of 10 killed, as well as the two female suicide bombers.

“Twelve people died including the bombers and many others injured,” state police commissioner Aderemi Opadokun said.

Reports from Maiduguri indicated that the first bomber was a girl aged about 17 but there was no immediate confirmation of her age.

There were also indications of a second bombing by a girl about the same age outside the bus station but no one was hurt. — AP.