University security man killed, soldier injured in suicide attack

BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

No fewer than four persons were killed including a security man of the University of Maiduguri , while a soldier was injured when two male and a female suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorists group blew up themselves in an attempt to gain entry into the University.

In a statement, issued by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),  its North-East, Information Officer, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said “Today ,13/05/2017, at 1:10am, three suicide bombers, two men and a woman attempted to gain access into university of Maiduguri, but were sighted by the university’s security personnel who stopped them for interrogation. While interrogating them, the two suicide bombers detonated their explosive  devices which injured one of the securities and killed another .”

The statement further said “ The third suicide bomber who hid close to the vicinity of a church in the university later detonated her explosive which affected the structure of the church with no casualty.”

He said the injured security man was taken to UMTH after administration of first aid while the corpses were deposited at Borno specialist hospital by the NEMA Emergency Response Team (ERT) team.

Also confirming the incident, Borno spokesman of the Borno state Police Command DSP Victor Isuku said “In the early hours of today, at about 0130 of  13/5/2017, three male suicide bombers, gained entry into the premises of University of Maiduguri, and advanced towards the mechanical workshop of the university. They were intercepted by the university security personnel and soldiers on duty”.

“ In an attempt to apprehend them, the suicide bombers hurriedly detonated IEDs strapped on their bodies, killing themselves and a university security personnel in the process, while a soldier was reported injured in the explosion, and is currently receiving treatment at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

He said the command’s EOD teams were despatched to sanitize the scene and vicinity of the campus for general safety and that normalcy has since been restored in the area.