Police foil suicide bomb attack at University of Maiduguri

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Joseph Kwaji, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Kwaji said a lone suicide bomber was neutralised at the parapet of the University by the security personnel deployed to the area.

According to him, the suspect detonated explosive devices strapped to his body, killing only himself.

The police spokesman said, "On February 19, 2018, at about 19: 20 p.m, a male suicide bomber strapped with Improvised Explosives Device (IED), in an attempt to infiltrate the University of Maiduguri parapet, was promptly sighted by security operatives, who opened fire on the bomber.

"As a result, the IED strapped to his body exploded, killing the bomber alone, and no other casualties".

Kwaji added that the police EOD team has sanitised the scene and that normal activities have resumed in the area.

Last week, Abubakar Shekau, leader of the deadly sect, Boko Haram, released a video vowing to launch more attacks in the northeast while dismissing the claims by the Nigerian Army that the group has been completely defeated.

Shekau released the video shortly after the army said the terrorists have been completely flushed out of Sambisa Forest, the groups stronghold.

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The army had also cited a captured Boko Haram commander, saying that Shekau fled to neighbouring Cameroun disguising as a woman.

Since it began in 2009, Boko Haram has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2.3 million from their homes in the northeast.

The sect was ranked as the world's deadliest terror group by the Global Terrorism Index in 2015.