Abuja bombings: UN confirms death toll hits 23

LAGOS-(AFP) – The death toll from last week’s suicide bomb attack on the UN’s headquarters in Nigeria has risen to 23, including 11 United Nations staff, the world body said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The death toll stands at 23: eleven UN staff -10 Nigerians and one Norwegian - nine non-UN staff and three unidentified others,” it said.

“Twenty-six injured persons remain in hospitals and clinics” in the capital Abuja where the attack took place.

It said 12 of the wounded, including critically injured and those on life-support, had been airlifted to South Africa.

“Every effort is being made to reconcile known facts about non-UN staff on site, such as contracted services, cleaners, security guards, and visitors,” the statement said.

The attack was among the bloodiest targeting the world body. The Nigerian Islamist group known as Boko Haram has claimed responsibility, but police say they are considering all possibilities.