Twin suicide attack on University of Maiduguri: How Professor, five others were killed; 12 year-old female bomber shot also shot on campus

BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

A Professor of veterinary medicine, professor Aliyu Mani and three others were killed(reports say the number of the dead increased to five), while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries when a suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device strapped on his body at the University of Maiduguri staff quarters mosque, as two suicide bombers stormed the University Monday.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Professor Abubakar Njodi confirmed the attacks. One of the two suicide bombers was said to have entered through gate five of the University and detonated the IED strapped on her body when she was about to be interrogated, killing herself instantly.

He said that out of the 15 injured two were critical, adding that the University suspended the on-going examination in the institution for Monday, January 16, 2017, to enable the students and university community mourn the departed souls.

The Chief Security officer of the University, Major Yakubu Ibrahim (rtd) said a male suicide bomber stormed the mosque at the senior staff quarters of the University, when the Muslim Ummah were performing the Subhi prayers (early morning prayers). Immediately after the prayers, the suicide bomber who was sitting on a pavement near the mosque detonated the IED when people were coming out of the mosque, killing the professor and two others.

He said “when the suicide bomber detonated the IED strapped on his body, his head was cut off from his body and hit the roof of the mosque. The blast killed one of our professors, Prof Aliyu Mani and two others who were coming out of the mosque. Those inside the mosque were not seriously affected.”

However, a hospital source who does not want his name in print told our Correspondent that five people were killed, as two additional persons later gave up the ghost at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH.

Also confirming the two attacks, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Victor Isuku said “at 05:01 hours a mobile Police Force personnel on duty near gate four of the University of Maiduguri gunned down a female suicide bomber of about 12 years old who tried to infiltrate the university premises and the IED strapped on her body exploded killing her instantly”.

Isuku added that shortly after the explosion of the first bomb, the second explosion occurred where three persons including a professor were killed, while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to UMTH for treatment.