Red Cross workers have confirmed that 11 people were killed in the blast that hit the premises of the finance ministry of Taraba state here in the state capital on Monday. "We can confirm that 11 people were killed. Ten people died on the spot while one person died at the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo," Umar Waziri, Red Cross Information Coordinator in Taraba, told reporters.

He said 20 others injured by the blast had been taken to various medical centers in the city.

Taraba Police Commissioner Maman Sule, however, told reporters that the force had only confirmed the death of three persons from the blast.

Sule said he escaped death by the whiskers.

"The explosives hit the official car I was riding in, and shattered the windscreen and front bombers. But I escaped unhurt," he added.

According to him, investigation had begun toward apprehending the bombers, while bomb experts had been invited to join the team of investigators.

The bomb blast, which occurred at the premises of the finance ministry, is believed to have been targeted at the police commissioner, whose office is close to the ministry.

The police commissioner was on his way to the office when the bombers struck just when he entered the ministry's premise whose building is adjacent to the Taraba police headquarters.