UPDATED: Fresh Bomb Blast Hits Maiduguri

A fresh blast, suspected to be from a vehicle loaded with explosives, has killed four and injured three people in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

The explosion occurred at about 7.10am in the Bulumkutu area just in front of Shehu Elkanemi College.
According to a witness, “the vehicle exploded on traffic and there were two people inside the car.”
He also clarified that the blast was from a popular commercial tricycle, Keke, which was riding behind a packed police patrol vehicle.The witness said it was likely that all occupants of the Keke and the police vehicle were dead.
A resident of the area, Mallam Sheriff, confirmed the incident.
“Yes, we just heard a large explosion from the direction of the area and I can see many ambulances and military vehicles heading in the direction. God help us,” he said.
According to another witness, Abraham Mshelia, a tricycle attempted to ram into a vehicle that just came out of Borno Motor Garage, the biggest in the town. Mshelia, who claimed he was near the scene of the incident, said the tricyclist waited for the bus to come out from the garage, adding that immediately the bus drove out, the tricyclist sped after it but could not catch up before exploding few kilometer away.
“I was at the motor park to board a vehicle when the explosion occurred. The park is near the SSS office and a tricycle was targeting a bus that just left the motor park but triggered off the explosion before the tricycle could get to bus. Four people including the bomber were killed,” Mashelia said.
Ibrahim Audu, who said he escaped death by a whisker, stated that he was in another tricycle just about 500 metres from the spot of the blast. “I saw three dead bodies being evacuated from the scene about 20 minutes after the arrival of emergency and rescue workers. Three other persons were assisted to the hospital,” he said.