By Suleiman Idris
President Muhammadu Buhari says he is saddened by the attack on a mosque in Mubi, Adamawa State on Tuesday morning which led to the death of 50 worshippers.
A boy believed to be a member of Boko Haram terrorists detonated a bomb strapped to his body during a morning prayer at Dazala area of Mubi town in Adamawa State.
The President in a message posted on his Twitter wall said he is “saddened by the very cruel and dastardly suicide bombing attack in a mosque in Mubi, earlier today.
“My condolences to the families of the victims, and the government and people of Adamawa State, may the souls of the dead rest in peace.” He wrote
Earlier, Adamawa Police Command says the death toll in the suicide attack has rose from 15 to 50.
Othman Abubakar, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
Fifteen people were earlier confirmed dead, but the figure was later reviewed to 25.
Abubakar said a young boy was responsible for the blast which occurred during the early morning prayer.
“We have 50 dead and we are now trying to get the exact number of those injured,” Mr. Abubakar said.
The attack happened in Dazala area of Mubi town in Adamawa on Tuesday around 5 a.m. when Muslims were observing the early morning prayer.
The incident was the first in three years since the liberation of Mubi town from Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 21 persons died in the attack.
Speaking via a telephone interview, Bashir Garga, NEMA coordinator, North-eastern, said eight persons injured in the attack had been evacuated for treatment.
”A suicide attack by a teenage boy after early morning prayers at a mosque has so far claimed the lives of at least 21 persons, and eight others injured seriously have been transferred to FMC, Yola,” Mr. Garga said.
“A boy of about 17-years-old, wearing a suicide vest entered the mosque along with other worshipers immediately after the prayers and detonated the bomb. Besides the eight (injured) transferred, others, wounded are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Mubi North,” he added.
“As people converged on Massalacin Madina at Anguwan Shuwa to observe Subh (morning prayer), an unknown man rammed himself into the mosque with IEDs, killing many people. As I am talking to you I saw over 20 dead with many injured’’, a resident of the area who identified himself as Bello said.
Speaking on the attack, the chairman of Mubi North Local Government Area, Musa Bello, said “the suicide bomber struck at the mosque during the morning prayer. Though for now, we are still compiling the casualty figure, reports say that over 15 to 20 people were reported killed.”