At least 17 people were killed on Tuesday in a suspected suicide bombing that rocked a market in the heart of Maiduguri, provincial capital of Nigeria's northeastern Borno state.
"At about 8:10am, a moving truck carrying charcoal exploded near the Maiduguri International Market," local resident Adamu Jingi told Anadolu Agency.
He said the military had since cordoned off the area, but added that tension had mounted after angry youths began questioning "the sincerity" of government troops.
An AA reporter at the scene also said about ten vehicles had been torched.
Most of those killed in the attack were members of a local vigilante group.
"They sighted a car and were trying to ask some questions from the driver when the explosion went off," Illiya Saidu, sector-3 chairman of civilian JTF, a youth vigilante group, said.
At least 69 people were injured in the attack, mostly young vigilantes, fruit sellers and drivers, according to Babagana Bukar, general manager of the Maiduguri International Market.
Muntari Yau, another eyewitness, said the van had been parked in a car park close to the market.
"I counted ten bodies," Yau, a seller of yams, told AA.
The Nigerian army has since confirmed the blast.
"A van loaded with charcoal and IEDs [improvised explosive devices] exploded in Maiduguri this morning," the military announced via Twitter on Tuesday. "The place has been cordoned."
But no official death toll has so far been released by the authorities.
The Borno State government has yet to comment on the bombing.
It was this year's third major attack in Maiduguri.
In March, about 50 people were killed when an explosive device went off near a football viewing center in the city.
Five others were killed in May in what was described as a suicide bombing.
By Olarewaju Kola
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
