A suicide bomber was on Tuesday, blown to pieces when the suicide vest he was wearing exploded on his body.
The incident happened at about 10 am on Tuesday opposite the popular Eke Market, Afikpo town, Afikpo local government area of Ebonyi state.
A source stated that 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 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 laying dead in the pull of his own blood.
The source, who noted that the incident happened close to the Eke Market in Afikpo, which happens to be the biggest market in the area, said that there is tension and panic in the community following the incident.
It was gathered that the upper part of the suspected suicide bomber’s body was completely destroyed from the impact of the bomb.
Reacting to the incident, the Ebonyi State Government, described the news of a suicide bomber being killed in his own vest after attempt to bomb a school in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State failed as false.
A statement by Mr. Francis Nwaze, Special Assistant to the Governor, Media and Publicity stated that: “My attention has been drawn to a news making the round in some section of the media that there was an explosion of a suicide bomb in Afikpo, Ebonyi State this afternoon.
“The above news is in sharp contrast to the reality as the incident was a grenade of a security personnel carrying out his duties at the said location that accidentally exploded.
“A similar incident equally occurred in front of the Ebonyi State Old Government House as some mobile police officers were servicing their APC machine.
“The first incident took the life of a passerby while the second caused injuries on the affected person, who has been taken to the hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
“The general public is, therefore, charged to disregard the fake news as it is the handiwork of enemies of the state who are bent on causing panic where none exists.
“Furthermore, Ebonyians and residents of Ebonyi State are reminded that generating and spreading of fake news aimed at causing panic in the state is actionable.”
