Suicide bomb blast kills 48 students at Nigerian school assembly

A suicide bomber has struck at a school in northeast Nigeria killing 48 students, the AP news agency is reporting. The attacker - disguised in a school uniform - reportedly detonated explosives as about 2,000 students were gathered for Monday morning’s weekly assembly at the Government Technical Science College in Potiskum, Yobe state. The number of dead was put at 48 by survivors and a morgue attendant speaking to AP.

The students had gathered for the morning assembly when something exploded in their midst with a thunderous sound at exactly 7:50 am (0650 GMT).

School teacher at the scene, speaking to AFP

Victims of the blast were reportedly taken to the Potiskum General Hospital, where staff said scores of students had already been admitted. A teacher said: “The explosion has affected many students but I can’t say how many because we are now evacuating the victims to the hospital which is just 100 metres away.” No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Yobe state, which has been hit by an insurgency by the Islamist group Boko Haram. At least 29 people were killed in another bombing in the town on November 3.

Potiskum Africa