Police in Yobe State on Sunday foiled the plan of a lone Boko Haram suicide bomber to blow off a police station in the state capital, Damaturu.
Witnesses revealed to journalists that the bomber, who drove into the town in a pickup van from its southern border, rammed the vehicle into the sand bags erected as a protective measure against any possible attack on the Police ‘A’ division located in the heart of the town.
The suicide bomber, who had thought the van would immediately detonate, was disappointed that the bomb device jammed. He was subsequently arrested.
He later confessed to be having some Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) loaded in the pickup van. This was later confirmed and diffused by the anti-bomb squad of the Damaturu Police command.
Some witnesses that spoke to journalists, said the suspected bomber after his arrest was handed over to the 7 division special operation battalion in Damaturu the state capital for further interrogation.
The state commissioner of Police Mr. Sanusi Rufai, while confirming the incident to journalists in Damaturu, gave the name of the suspect as a 19-year-old. Abubakar Umar
He said the suicide bomber was on a mission to blow off the A division of the Nigeria police as well as kill innocent people at the busy central roundabout in the heart of Damaturu metropolis.
He revealed that after searching the Chevrolet Pickup van brought by the bomber, five constructed cylinders with explosives devices, 20 litres of diesel and 10 litres of premium motor spirits were found in the vehicle.
Other items found in his possession include five 9.5 battery chargers, a fire extinguisher containing explosives and a wall clock.
The suspect according to him, is still undergoing interrogation. He called on the public to continue to partner with security agents in their efforts to fight terrorism in the state and the country as a whole.
