Update 3 – 5 Feared Dead İn Nigeria Radio Station Blast

Five people were feared dead on Monday after a blast ripped through a private radio station in Okene town of central Nigeria's Kogi State, according to locals.



"Five people are dead at the moment but the casualties could rise," Ladi Umaru, a resident of the area, told The Anadolu Agency.



The blast ripped through Tao FM, a private station, about 8: 30pm local time.



"The attack was carried out by unknown gunmen who shot to death all the armed security guards on duty before hauling explosive into the building," Ishaya Chonoko, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency in the area, told AA.



"So far 5 dead bodies were recovered and taken to Okene General Hospital," he said.



Dr Tom Adaba, board chairman of the radio station, confirmed the attack.



"The report of the bomb blast is true," Adaba told AA by phone, declining to give further details.



A staff of the radio station said the attack took place shortly after he left the building.



"I just left the compound a few minutes before the blast which killed some of my colleagues. I don't have exact figure yet," he said, requesting anonymity.



Nigerian authorities have yet to comment on the report.



Kogi has hardly been targeted by the Boko Haram militants who have operated in the northeast since 2009.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Lagos