ABUJA: Seventy-eight students were killed and 45 others were injured as an explosion rocked a government college in northeastern Nigeria, a hospital source said Monday.
More than 100 blast victims were rushed to a state-run hospital in Potiskum, Yobe State, a stone's throw away from the scene of the bomb attack, said two medical workers at the hospital, who pleaded for anonymity.
"Everyone is confused. The casualty figures are so high," one of the hospital staff, who claimed to have obtained the given figure from the Potiskum General Hospital register, told Xinhua.
The huge explosion went off in Potiskum, a commercial hub of northeastern Nigeria's restive Yobe State, killing dozens of students and wounding several others, National police spokesperson Emmanuel Ojukwu told Xinhua.
The spokesperson said the number of casualties could not be immediately confirmed as security personnel have surrounded the scene to secure the school.
A Xinhua reporter in the state said the suspected bomb exploded at the Government Comprehensive Secondary Science School in Pokistum.
The incident occurred early morning as the students lined up for the usual morning assembly. The attack on the college occurred while the head teacher was addressing the students.
According to a local teacher, a thunderous sound was suddenly heard and there was pandemonium as everyone scampered for safety.
The teacher said many of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.
Police have cordoned off the roads leading to the college and the hospital, to forestall further attacks.
There was a bomb scare at the hospital, said another medical staff who helped in receiving the casualties.
No official casualty figures have been given, but witnesses said they saw dead bodies.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack. But residents of the restive state are blaming Boko Haram, an outlawed sect which had claimed responsibility for the killings of thousands and kidnappings in Nigeria since 2009.
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