15 killed, 41 hurt in blasts near Nigerian capital: officials

Abuja, Oct 3: Two bomb blasts that ripped through the outskirts of Nigeria's capital Abuja have left at least 15 people dead and 41 wounded, the National Emergency Management Agency said today.

"Following a coordinated rescue operation at scene of multiple explosions in both Nyaya and Kuje, which are satellite towns of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, so far 15 persons lost their lives and 41 injured," hospitals," NEMA said in a statement.

"In Nyaya two dead were recorded while 21 injured. Kuje 13 lost their lives and 20 injured," the agency said. It said the injured had been taken to the hospitals for treatment.

The explosions occurred late yesterday near a police station in Kuje and at a bus stop in Nyanya, in an area previously targeted by the Boko Haram Islamist group. Kuje, near Abuja's airport, is some 40 kilometres from the city centre and seat of government.

Its prison has been reported to be holding dozens of Boko Haram prisoners captured by troops. The same bus station in Nyanya was hit twice last year. The first attack, on April 14 2014, left at least 75 dead and was claimed by the Islamists; the second, on May 1, left at least 16 dead.

AFP