Twin explosions hit Nigerian Maiduguri univ. campus

By Olarewaju Kola and Rafiu Ajakaye

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

Four people including a professor of veterinary medicine, a teenager and two suicide bombers have been confirmed dead in twin bomb explosions at a major university in the restive Nigeria's Maiduguri city early Monday morning.

Spokesman of the national emergency management agency, Sani Datti, confirmed the casualties in a statement as "there was reported incidence of twin blasts at the University of Maiduguri at about 5 a.m. (local time).

"A total of four people, including two suicide bombers, have been confirmed dead, and 17 injured victims were transferred to hospital," he said.

Also, the university spokesman, Ahmed Mohammed, told Anadolu Agency in Maiduguri that a professor of veterinary medicine, Abubakar Mani, and a teenager were among the casualties.

Police said the explosions occurred within the premises of the University of Maiduguri -a major university in the country's northeast region- as Muslims were observing their early morning prayers.

"There was an explosion within the premises of University of Maiduguri during the early morning prayers by Muslim faithfuls," police spokesman, Victor Isuku, said in a short statement. He did not provide further details.

A senior official of the University who is not authorized to speak on the incident said the first blast occurred at "a mosque near the Gate 5 of the University killing some worshippers including a professor and injuring many."

"The second happened near Gate 1, a designated bus stop for students and other members of the University community. But there was no casualty there because transport activities were yet to resume as it was very early," the source said.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari called the attacks ‘cowardly’ in a condolence message.

“President Buhari believes that this appalling attack on a revered place of worship and Ivory Tower shows that the perpetrators have no true understanding of Islam, adding that their despicable acts of terrorism are cowardly, criminal, unjustifiable and punishable before God Almighty and the laws of the land,” a presidential statement said.

It quoted the president as assuring the citizens that terrorism will not triumph over the country but called for increased vigilance by everyone.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the explosions but military sources said they bore the hallmark of Boko Haram insurgents who have stepped up suicide bombing in the area since 2014.

The incident was the first bomb blast recorded in the 43-year-old university during the nearly seven years of Boko Haram insurgency in the area.

It came nearly two weeks after two explosions killed three and injured five at the outskirts of the city.