Suicide bombers target university in northeast Nigeria

By Olarewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - A security personnel and three suspected suicide bombers were killed in two separate explosions at a major university in northeast Nigeria’s Maiduguri city early Saturday, according to police and emergency agency officials.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, a spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, said two suspected suicide bombers had attempted to enter the University of Maiduguri early morning, but they were thwarted by security personnel posted at the gate.

"Two men attempted to gain access into University of Maiduguri, but were sighted by the university security who stopped them for interrogation.

“While interrogating them, the two suicide bombers detonated their explosives devices which injured one of the security guards and killed another," Ibrahim said in a statement.

A third suspected female suicide bomber, who lurked in the vicinity of a church inside the university, later also set off her explosives.

"She detonated her explosive which affected the structure of the church with no casualty," he added.

Police spokesman Victor Isuku confirmed the casualty toll and blamed Boko Haram for the attack.

On Jan. 16, a suicide attack in a mosque at the same university had killed a professor of veterinary medicine and three other people while they said their early morning prayers.