London, April 14 (IANS): At least 71 people were killed and 124 injured Monday in two blasts in a crowded bus station in Nigeria, an official said.

The explosion occurred as commuters were about to board vehicles to go to work in central Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, BBC reported.

Eyewitnesses said dead bodies were scattered all around the blast site.

Abbas Idris, head of the Abuja Emergency Relief Agency, confirmed 71 people dead and 124 injured.

Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, said injured victims were under treatment in the hospital.

No terrorist group had yet claimed responsibility.

According to Amnesty International, at least 1,500 people, half of them civilian, have been killed in the restive north-eastern region this year.

The organisation blamed both "an increase in attacks by (Islamist jihadist militant organisation) Boko Haram and uncontrolled reprisals by Nigeria's security forces" for the high toll.