The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has verified that the explosion which occurred in Abuja on Monday afternoon was the result of an attempted suicide bombing.
The agency revealed that the blast was triggered by an individual wearing an improvised explosive device (IED) who was trying to breach security at the Mogadishu Army Cantonment located along the Mararaba-Nyanya expressway.
According to NEMA’s statement released on Tuesday, the assailant died instantly when the explosive detonated prematurely, while a bystander sustained injuries during the incident.
The explosion occurred around 1:47 p.m., prompting an immediate alert to emergency services. A coordinated response team was activated and swiftly deployed to the site, which had already been secured by armed security operatives before their arrival.
The agency reported that initial findings suggested the attacker was attempting to enter the military facility without authorization when the IED went off. Security personnel from multiple agencies were already on the ground, securing the perimeter and preventing further danger.
The lone civilian injured in the blast was quickly assisted by the Nigeria Police Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and transported to the National Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Forensic officers also began their investigation shortly after the area was stabilized, working to gather evidence from the scene.
The response to the incident concluded at 5:29 p.m. and involved a collaboration of several national security and emergency bodies, including NEMA, the Military, Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
What you should know
The attempted bombing underscores ongoing concerns about security breaches targeting military installations.
Though the suicide bomber failed to penetrate the facility, the incident has heightened alert levels and reinforced the need for continued vigilance and strengthened perimeter defenses around strategic locations in the capital.
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