More than 39 people were killed after two bombs exploded in Kaduna, Nigeria, on Wednesday.

State Police Commissioner Umar Usman Shehu said the death toll is expected to rise following witnesses' claims that there were more people killed in the blasts.

The bombs were reported to have been aimed at former Nigerian military leader Muhammadu Buhari and another prominent Muslim cleric, according to the Nigerian state security.

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Buhari and the Muslim cleric both survived the bombing.

Buhari, the current leader of Nigeria's opposition, said that the attacks were an "assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car. I came out unhurt, but with three of my security staff sustaining minor injuries."

The other attack was said to target Dahiru Bauchi, a sheik who gave a Ramadan speech to thousands of devotees in an outdoor ceremony. Bauchi is known for his anti-violence talks and going against the extremisms of Boko Haram.

"They were waiting for him," said Shehu, referring to the youngster who reportedly threw the bomb. "It's when he was passing the boy headed to him."

The boy who threw the grenade was also killed in the explosion, officials said.

No arrests has been made.

The bombings prompted Kaduna state Gov. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to immediately order a 24-hour curfew, leaving many civilians stranded at their workplaces.

The governor did not call out Boko Haram as the attackers but he considered the bombers to have a "common enemy" with the Nigerian Islamic militants.

"Enemies of peace have visited us with their ungodly venom of wanton destruction of human lives," said Yero. "This blast, coming in the holy month of Ramadan is a clear indication that those behind the act have no iota of fear of God."

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a public statement saying they "deplore" the bombings and asked the Nigerian government to avoid offensive response.

Tagstwin blasts, two bombs, Nigeria, 39 killed