Nigerian Bus Station Bombing Kills at Least 71, 124 Injured

A bomb exploded and killed at least 71 people near the capital city of Nigeria Monday morning Reuters reports. 124 more were injured. The bomb was at a bus station five miles south of Abuja and went off at rush hour, prompting chaos in the crowds of people.

Witness Mimi Daniels said, “I was waiting to get on a bus when I heard a deafening explosion, then saw smoke. People were running around in panic."

“More than two buses carrying workers were cut up by the blast. I saw many people in the bus dead, and many were injured,” witness Kingsley Ajimobi said.

There is no concrete evidence of who is behind the attack, but Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan suspects terrorist group Boko Haram.

Monday’s bombing marks the first attack on the capital city in two years.

Kole Shettima, director of the Abuja office of U.S. Charitable Institution said, “In some ways it’s not a big surprise. The situation has been escalating. It’s a statement that they are still around and they can attack Abuja when they want, and instill fear.”

President Jonathan is urging Nigerians to be on their guard for suspicious activity.

Publication date: April 14, 2014