A suspected su!cide bomber d!ed on Monday afternoon when the bomb he was carrying exploded near the Mogadishu Cantonment, popularly known as Abacha Barracks, in Abuja.
The blast happened around 2:14 p.m. under a pedestrian bridge near a checkpoint where passengers usually drop off before entering the barracks.
Military sources said the man had just stepped out of a Volkswagen Golf vehicle and was walking toward the checkpoint when a military police officer noticed his suspicious movement.
“When his movement became suspicious, he was stopped by the military police on duty who asked him to step back for proper identification. He moved a few meters away, and the IED he was carrying exploded,” a military source said.
The explosion killed the bomber and injured two other people.
The Nigerian Army posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Explosion At Bus Stop Opposite Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja. Situation Under Control. Details Later.”
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The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, also confirmed the explosion. She said it happened around 2:50 p.m. along the Mararaba-Nyanya bypass.
She explained that the police quickly sent a bomb disposal team to the scene and cordoned off the area to protect the public.
“One male victim was rescued at the scene and promptly taken to the hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention,” Adeh said.
She added that a full investigation is ongoing, including forensic analysis to understand the exact cause and nature of the explosion.
The police urged residents to stay calm but alert. “There is no cause for alarm,” Adeh said, encouraging the public to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or call emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, and 07057337653.