A suicide bomber was on Tuesday blown to pieces when a suicide vest he was wearing exploded on his body.
The incident reportedly happened in Afikpo town in Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state.
The incident, according to sundry reports, happened around 12noon.
“He (the suicide bomber) made an attempt at entering Amaizu/ Amangballa Primary School but was turned back by the school security since he couldn’t justify his reason for visiting.
“He immediately started running inside a nearby bush before a big bang was heard,” the source said.
The source, as reported in some online media, also said residents scampered for safety when the bomb exploded but reconvened at the scene of the incident a few minutes after only to discover the suspected suicide bomber lying dead with mangled flesh and blood flowing freely.
A resident said that the incident happened close to the Eke Market Afikpo, which is said to be the biggest market in the area.
He hinted that there was tension and panic in the community on account of the incident.
Commissioner for Internal Security, Stanley Okoro confirmed the incident but noted that he had yet to get details of what happened.
The State Police Command spokesperson, Mrs Loveth Odah, said the accidental discharge had nothing to do with suicide bombing.
She said the victim of the accident was a mobile policeman carrying a hand grenade (like teargas) strapped to his waist, stressing that it accidentally discharged.
She said the man was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
The identity of the Mobile Police Officer on special deployment to Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, who lost his life on the purported accidental discharge of the lead of a hand grenade has been disclosed after Odah’s interview on Channels TV.
He is Mr Idi Aminu.
The incident, which occurred opposite Amizi Amangbala Primary School in Afikpo North threw the area into panic as passers by scampered for safety.
Odah had confirmed the development, explaining that the MOPOL who was an Inspector mistakenly hit the lead of his grenade, which was hanging on his waist with his elbow resulting in the deadly explosion.
She noted that the police officer was an operative of MOPOL 32 and not a suicide bomber as being circulated in the social media.
The PPRO said his remains had been evacuated to a mortuary.
She also cleared the air on alleged accidental discharge by a police officer at Government House Abakaliki, pointing out that though a bullet accidentally fired from an AK 47 rifle when police officers posted to the gate were cleaning their firearms, it never hurt or killed any of them.
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