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71 killed in Nigeria blast
IANS
Last Updated IST
Rescue workers work to recover victims at the site of a blast at the Nyanya Motor Park, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the center of Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, April 14, 2014. An explosion blasted through a busy commuter bus station on the outskirts of Abuja before 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) Monday as hundreds of people were traveling to work. AP photo
Rescue workers work to recover victims at the site of a blast at the Nyanya Motor Park, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the center of Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, April 14, 2014. An explosion blasted through a busy commuter bus station on the outskirts of Abuja before 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) Monday as hundreds of people were traveling to work. AP photo

At least 71 people were killed and 124 injured Monday in two blasts in a crowded bus station in Nigeria, an official said.

The explosion occurred as commuters were about to board vehicles to go to work in central Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, BBC reported.

Eyewitnesses said dead bodies were scattered all around the blast site.

Abbas Idris, head of the Abuja Emergency Relief Agency, confirmed 71 people dead and 124 injured.

Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, said injured victims were under treatment in the hospital.

No terrorist group had yet claimed responsibility.

According to Amnesty International, at least 1,500 people, half of them civilian, have been killed in the restive north-eastern region this year.

The organisation blamed both "an increase in attacks by (Islamist jihadist militant organisation) Boko Haram and uncontrolled reprisals by Nigeria's security forces" for the high toll.

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(Published 14 April 2014, 18:55 IST)