The Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, has confirmed the death of 21 persons and 17 others injured in this afternoon’s bomb blast at EMAB Plaza in Wuse, FCT Abuja. The bombing also damaged several vehicles.

Omeri told newsmen in Abuja that the attackers came on a power bike and planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) by the entrance of the shopping mall.

He said that soldiers killed one of the suspected bombers and arrested another. NAN gathered that the suspects, who attempted to flee the scene of the incident, were shot and arrested by personnel of the Guards Brigade on patrol duty in the area.

One of them later died from wounds sustained from gunshots while a bag containing IEDs was also recovered from the suspects.

NAN correspondents reported that some of the victims were receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Wuse General Hospital and Maitama General Hospital, where movement had been restricted.

FCT Minister Bala Mohammed gave an assurance during a visit to the Maitama hospital that the Federal Government would foot the medical bills of the victims.

Mohammed advised residents to be very vigilant at all times and report suspicious movements to security agencies for prompt action to check such attacks.

Earlier, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the explosion which occurred at EMAB Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja.

NEMA’s Press Officer, Mr Ezekiel Manzo, had earlier told NAN that the agency deployed its personnel for rescue operations to the scene after receiving information of the blast about 4 p.m.

As earlier reported by News Express, this is the first time that terrorists have succeeded in bombing the Nigerian capital since 2012.

They have, however, enjoyed success attacking the outskirts. In April, more than 70 people were killed in a bomb blast at a bus stop in Nyanya in an attack claimed by Boko Haram.

The group also said it was behind a car bomb attack near a bus station in the suburbs in May, which killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others. Boko Haram is suspected to e the perpetrators of today’s bombing incident.

•Photo shows scene of the Abuja FCT bomb blast.

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