Female bomber, soldier die in Army barracks explosion

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, has confirmed that a bomb exploded at a Nigerian Army barracks in Gombe on Sunday.

Olukolade said that one soldier died while another was wounded by the explosion.

He however said normal activities had thereafter been ongoing at the barracks in Gombe where the incident occurred.

“Intelligence deduced from credible information earlier received on this plot confirms the vigilance of some members of the public,” he said.

NAN reports that the female suicide bomber also died when the bomb exploded at a military quarter-guard in Gombe.

Public Relations Officer of the Gombe State Police Command, Fwaje Atahiri said he heard of the incident but did not have details.

NAN gathered that the female bomber, who was riding on a motorcycle, approached the quarter-guard of the 301 Battalion and hugged a soldier.

This had led to the bomb exploding, and killing both of them.

The source said the explosion also injured other soldiers at the quarter-guard, and they were quickly rushed to the military hospital for treatment.

A NAN correspondent in Gombe reports that immediately the explosion occurred, soldiers cordoned off the road leading to the barracks.

Also, shops and other business centres which were opened at that time were hurriedly closed by their owners when the blast occurred, while many other people ran helter-skelter.

A resident of the area, who did not want his name mentioned, told NAN he was in his house around 11:20 a.m. when he heard the blast.

He said he also heard soldiers shooting in the air, apparently to scare people.