Explosion hits Nigeria's displaced persons camp, 7 killed

At least seven people were killed Friday by a huge explosion which hit the camp of internally displaced persons (IDPs) situated in Nigeria's Yola city, capital of the northeastern state of Adamawa, authorities of the National Emergency Management Agency said.

Twenty people were injured in the bomb blast early Friday at Malkohi area of the province where the camp is situated, according to a statement signed by Sani Datti, a spokesperson of the rescue agency.

Seven injured persons have been treated and discharged while 13 others, including four rescue officials working at the camp, are still receiving treatment at a state-run medical facility in the city center of Yola, the rescue agency said.

The bomb was planted inside a the Malkohi camp which is composed predominantly of IDPs from Cameroon and Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, the epicenter of Boko Haram activities.

The incident on Friday was first of such attacks to be carried out at a camp of displaced persons since the terror group Boko Haram declared war against Nigeria six years ago. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced and more than 13,000 have been killed, following the insurgency of Boko Haram since 2009.

At least 27 people were killed near a market in Yola more than two months ago.

Source: XINHUA