Global General

Bomb blasts Nigerian after Jonathan inauguration

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-30 09:16

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan waves to the crowd during his inauguration ceremony at Eagle square in Abuja May 29, 2011. President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in for his first full elected term at the helm of Africa's most populous nation on Sunday, faced with the challenge of driving reform and trying to heal regional rifts.[Photo/Agencies]

ABUJA -- Bombing blasts shook the northern Nigerian town of Bauchi on Sunday, hours after President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in, leaving a specific number of casualties, authorities said.

Yushau Shuaib, a government spokesman told reporters that most victims were hospitalized while the dead bodies were removed from the scene, which is a market located at a military barracks. But he didn't give specific number of the casualties. Authorities have taken actions to "contain the situation," he added.

Other media reports said there were as mush as 10 deaths and multiple injuries.

Nigeria has been rocked by a series of deadly bombings recently and authorities blamed the anti-government group Boko Haram for the attacks.

Jonathan on Sunday started his first full term as president. He took over power in May 2010 after the death of then president Umaru Yar'Auda.