News / Africa
Twin bomb blasts hit as Nigeria polls open
16 Apr 2011 at 10:38hrs | Views
A bomb exploded near a vote collating centre in northeastern Nigeria late Friday, hours before polls opened in presidential elections, but no casualties were reported, police said.
There were also reports of a second blast and shots being fired on Saturday morning in the city of Maiduguri, but details remained unclear, said Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman with the national emergency management agency.
"There was an attempted bomb attack on an (electoral commission) collation centre for Maiduguri metropolitan last night," state police commissioner Michael Zuokumor told AFP.
"The attackers, who were in a moving car, threw the bomb which exploded about 20 metres (yards) to the office, destroying shops and stalls around. However the office was unscathed," he said.
Zuokumor said no casualties were recorded. Maiduguri was hit by two explosions during parliamentary elections a week ago.
There were also reports of a second blast and shots being fired on Saturday morning in the city of Maiduguri, but details remained unclear, said Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman with the national emergency management agency.
"The attackers, who were in a moving car, threw the bomb which exploded about 20 metres (yards) to the office, destroying shops and stalls around. However the office was unscathed," he said.
Zuokumor said no casualties were recorded. Maiduguri was hit by two explosions during parliamentary elections a week ago.
Source - Sapa-AFP
