Death toll of Nigeria suicide attacks rises to 18

The death toll of three suicide attacks early Wednesday in Nigeria's Damaturu city, capital of the northeastern state of Yobe, has risen from 16 to 18, local police said.

Two more people died while receiving treatment at the hospital, Yobe State police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, told Xinhua. He said eight other people are receiving treatment at a state-owned health facility in the state.

Earlier, coordinator of the state relief agency, Musa Jidawa, had confirmed 16 people killed and 10 injured following the multiple blasts.

He said two suicide bombers wearing jackets strapped with improvised explosive devices blew up themselves at a business district near a place known as Buhari Estate in the Damaturu metropolis. The first suicide attack occurred at about 6 a.m. local time, when early birds were on their way to respective places of work.

Another suicide bomber threw an improvised explosive device at a crowd of people living on the outskirts of Damaturu, the official added.

A security source said the first suicide bomber rode on a tricycle to the place and detonated his explosive device.

The number of suicide attacks carried out by Boko Haram in parts of Nigeria has increased recently, despite efforts by the military to rout out terrorists in the West African country.

Last weekend, the Nigerian capital Abuja was jolted by series of suicide attacks in which almost 20 people were killed and 41 injured. Endit