Audio By Carbonatix
The death toll from Friday's bomb attacks by Islamist militants in the Nigerian city of Kano is certain to rise further, doctors have said.
Hospital officials say 160 people have been confirmed dead, but that bodies are still arriving at mortuaries.
Boko Haram, which wants an Islamic state, said it launched the attack because the authorities refused to free a group of its members from jail.
President Goodluck Jonathan visited Kano to offer his condolences.
He has said that the security situation in Nigeria is now more complicated than it was during the 1967-1970 civil war.
But he has promised to track down the perpetrators of the Kano attack.
Boko Haram has launched a series of assaults over the past year, killing hundreds of people.
Its members have bombed churches, government buildings and police stations - mostly in predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria.
But the Kano attack appear to be the group's most deadly co-ordinated assault.
One doctor told the AFP news agency that the final toll was likely to be about 250.
"Although the bulk of the bodies were brought here [the main hospital], others were deposited at three other hospitals," the doctor said.
And aid workers were still collecting bodies from the streets on Sunday.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Kano says there is a growing belief that Boko Haram launched the attack to free some of its members from jail.
A local police chief told our correspondent that about 50 Boko Haram attackers had managed to free "many" prisoners.
Boko Haram, which loosely translates from the local Hausa language as "Western education is forbidden", says it wants to overthrow the national government and impose Islamic law.
Curfew
It first hit the headlines in 2009 when a spate of attacks by its followers on police and government buildings in the city of Maiduguri led to a crackdown in which hundreds died.
Since then, a wave of bombings and shootings have killed police officers, government officials and both Muslim and Christian civilians.
Mr Jonathan's government has struggled to contain the violence, and has imposed emergency law in several parts of the north. Kano is under a night-time curfew.
On Sunday in Bauchi state several people were killed in an attack on a police station.
No group has said it carried out the attack, but Boko Haram have operated in the state in the past.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
GN Savings and Loans could resume operations before end of 2026 — Dr Kweku Nduom
12 minutes -
Telecel CEO speaks on closing Africa’s gender gap in technology at Rwandan summit
17 minutes -
Analysis: Why the cedi is depreciating
1 hour -
What are they hiding? – Tech consultant questions rush for 15 digital bills
1 hour -
To nationalise or transform? Joy Business hosts roundtable on Ghana’s extractive future
1 hour -
This is not how modern innovation ecosystems are built – Tech analyst warns over NITA Bill
2 hours -
A web developer could become a criminal – NITA Bill sparks fear among young innovators
2 hours -
Mercy Johnson faces backlash over $18.24 menstrual kit
2 hours -
EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million euro sum, Handelsblatt reports
2 hours -
Senegal’s Faye names economist Lo as new prime minister
2 hours -
Landslide at Angola illegal gold mine kills 28
3 hours -
The Draft NITA Bill should be shredded
3 hours -
Eni and partners approve new development phase for Ivory Coast project
3 hours -
Gov’t signals tougher scrutiny before renewing Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease, Reuters report
3 hours -
Africa must build strong systems to achieve sporting success — Herbert Mensah
3 hours