NEMA Confirms Suicide Bomber Behind Abuja Explosion Near Army Barracks
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the explosion which rocked Abuja on Monday afternoon was the result of a failed suicide bombing attempt.
The blast, which occurred near a bus stop along the busy Mararaba-Nyanya expressway, left one civilian injured and caused panic among commuters and residents in the area.
Initial reports from the police indicated that a comprehensive investigation had been launched, including forensic analysis, to determine the exact cause of the explosion. However, NEMA, in a statement released on Tuesday, disclosed that the explosion was triggered by a suicide bomber wearing an improvised explosive device (IED) while attempting to infiltrate the Mogadishu Army Cantonment.
The agency stated that it received an alert about the explosion at approximately 1:47 p.m. on Monday, prompting the immediate activation of a response team. On arrival, emergency responders met a heavily secured and cordoned-off scene, guarded by stern-looking military personnel.
“Information gathered revealed that a suicide bomber attempted to sneak into the barracks but met his Waterloo as the IED exploded on him while trying to negotiate an entry,” the statement read.
The bomber was killed instantly, while one passerby sustained injuries and was promptly evacuated to the National Hospital in Abuja by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The police also took charge of the blast site for further investigation.
