An individual suspected to be a suicide bomber was killed on Monday in Abuja after an explosive device he was carrying detonated near the Mogadishu barracks. The blast, which occurred at a bus stop outside the barracks, also left one person injured.
The Nigerian Police Force confirmed they are investigating the incident. Their Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was dispatched to the scene, which was immediately cordoned off to allow for analysis and to ensure public safety. The Nigerian Army stated that the explosion took place outside their Mogadishu Barracks, a facility that also accommodates personnel from the air force and navy.
Military sources, who requested anonymity, indicated that the suspected bomber was killed by an explosive contained in a rubber can. Authorities including military personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS), police, and officers from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were at the scene taking inventory of the incident.
This event is not an isolated one in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as Abuja has a history of suicide bomb attacks. Notably, in 2011, a suicide car bombing at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Abuja resulted in at least 18 fatalities.