Bomb blasts that appeared to target former Nigerian military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and a prominent moderate Muslim cleric killed dozens of people Wednesday, but left both leaders unharmed, according to Nigerian state security, according to Reuters.
At least 82 people were killed in the two blasts, said State Police Commissioner Umar Usman Shehu, Reuters reported. The death toll is expected to rise, as witnesses at both bomb sites said dozens of people were killed in each of the blasts.
"The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car," said Buhari, in a statement issued after the bombings, according to Reuters. "I came out unhurt, but with three of my security staff sustaining minor injuries."
The other bombing appeared to target Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, who gave an annual Ramadan speech to thousands of faithful in an outdoor service, Reuters reported. Bauchi is known for preaching against the violent extremism of Nigeria's Islamic militants, Boko Haram.
"They were waiting for him," said police commissioner Shehu of the boy who threw a bomb at the sheik, according to Reuters. "It's when he was passing the boy headed to him."
The cleric survived the blast but the boy was killed, said the police commissioner, who added that no arrests were made immediately, Reuters reported.
The second blast, which hit the Kaduna marketplace where Buhari was about two and a half hours after the first explosion, left bodies and body parts scattered, said witnesses, according to Reuters. More than 50 vehicles were destroyed, the witnesses said.
A 24-hour curfew was declared by Kaduna state governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero immediately after Wednesday's bombings, leaving many people stranded at their jobs, unable to go home for the night, Reuters reported.
