Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A suicide attack which would have caused the death of many at a major market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been averted as the would-be bomber prematurely detonated the explosives, killing himself.
The male suicide bomber with explosives strapped to his body was heading towards the crowded Monday Market, a central market in the heart of the city at about 7:15 Saturday evening as Muslims were breaking their Ramadan fast.
The bomber, however, detonated the explosives ahead of his mission upon sighting some security personnel in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, confirmed the incident to The Sun on Sunday.
“The male suicide bomber sighted massive presence of police and other security deployments at Oando Filling station near Post Office and hurriedly detonated the explosives, killing self alone,” said the Commissioner.
He disclosed that the charred body of the bomber has been evacuated from the scene of the blast and the area “sanitized and rendered safe for normalcy.”
More police personnel have been deployed to most parts of the capital and other flash points in the state, the Commissioner said, to ensure security of life and property, especially in the remaining days of the Ramadan fast and as Eid al-Fitr approaches.