Six persons were killed while another 19 were injured when a suicide bomber attacked the Borno State Secretariat, Maiduguri, on Thursday, May 12.
The attack also saw one policeman at the gate dead.
Governor Ibrahim Shetima visited the scene to evaluate things for himself.
The incident occurred at about 12pm.
The would-be suicide bomber camouflaged as one of the workers of the state government who were there to conduct staff verification.
The suicide bomber reportedly had a file on him to show to the security officers at the gate that he was a staff.
He was, however, turned back when he couldn’t produce a staff identification card.
That was when the suicide bomber detonated the bomb strapped on him, killing himself and 5 other person.
19 persons were consequently injured and were rushed to the Borno State Hospital, Maiduguri for treatment.
The two deceased persons were deposited at the morgue of Maiduguri hospital.
Nevertheless, below is the official Army statement on the bombing:
ANOTHER SUICIDE BOMBER INTERCEPTED IN MAIDUGURI
This afternoon, combined team of Nigeria policemen maintaining security duties at the entrance of Borno State Government Secretariat, (which was known as Musa Usman Secretariat) in Maiduguri, intercepted and prevented a male suicide bomber from entering to attack workers based on suspicion.
Unfortunately, in the process of stopping him, he detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman that stopped him from gaining entry into the Secretariat Complex.
Sadly, the injured policeman died later.
Similarly, 18 people have sustained various degrees of injuries and have since been evacuated to hospital for treatment.
Troops have cordoned off the area and evacuated all workers from the Secretariat and reinforced security.
In addition, the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) and K9 teams have been mobilized to the Secretariat for screening until it is declared safe.
This unfortunate incident has reinforced the need for more security consciousness and awareness on the part of all of us as the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathizers still mingle with the society.
It therefore behooves on all and sundry to ensure that they are detected and prevented from carrying out their dastardly acts.
Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations
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