Blast kills four in popular southeast Nigerian market: Official

At least four people have been killed and a dozen more injured following a blast at a popular market in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Anambra, a witness and official said.

Emeka Umeagbalasi, who heads the civil society group Intersociety and witnessed Tuesday’s incident, said the blast occurred in a section of the market that sells chemicals, leading to a fire that razed shops in the Onitsha market, one of the largest outdoor markets in West Africa.

“[F]our people died and scores (were) injured,” Umeagbalasi said.

Onitsha South local government area Chairman Emeka Orji confirmed the death toll to reporters, adding that at least 12 people were injured as they stampeded to leave the market.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

Anambra state police spokesman said the casualty figure was unknown but the situation was under control.

The state emergency management agency said it was investigating.

Anambra is one of the five states in the southeast of the country where violence, which authorities blame on separatist groups, is rising among youths who cite historical marginalisation.