August 2, AP

The bomb used in Kawori was identified as an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in the teashop. (Representational file photo)

A bomb exploded in a roadside market in Kawori, a rural area of Nigeria’s Borno state, killing at least 16 people and critically wounding dozens more, according to local officials.

The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. local time Wednesday at a teashop popular with locals in the Konduga area, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital, Maiduguri.

Authorities have not yet determined who was responsible for the attack. However, many suspect Boko Haram, the Islamic militant group that has been waging an insurgency in Nigeria and neighboring countries since 2009.

This attack follows a recent triple suicide bombing in Gwoza, another town in Borno state.

The bomb used in Kawori was identified as an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in the teashop.

This was not a suicide bombing, police said. The state emergency management agency reported about 24 people were seriously injured, while the police noted that the number of critically wounded is still being assessed.

In response to the bombing, the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew to maintain order.

The curfew comes as protests against Nigeria’s rising cost of living erupted in Maiduguri, with police using tear gas to disperse demonstrators.