Ebonyi State Police Command has said the man killed in an explosion on Tuesday in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was not a suicide bomber but a police officer.
DSP Loveth Odeh, Command’s Public Relation Officer (PPRO) told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abakaliki that the pictures were not in connection with a suicide bomber.
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The incident which occurred opposite Amizi Amangbala Primary School in Afikpo North and the popular Eke Market in the area, threw the area into panic as passersby scampered for safety.
Residents believe he was a suicide bomber who was targeting the school but Mrs Odah said he was an Inspector of Police.
Odah said the victim of the blast was a Mobile Police Officer on special deployment to Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
She stated that the officer, Mr Idi Aminu, died as a result of an accidental hand grenade explosion, explaining;
There is no bomb explosion in Ebonyi, but regrettably, this morning, one of our mobile police personnel attached to Afikpo on special duty was wounded by teargas. The officer mistakenly hit a teargas hung on his belt, and unfortunately, the device exploded and wounded him and he died.
Odeh stated:
The lifeless body, the man in the picture is Inspector Idi Aminu, attached to 32 PMF Abakaliki but on special duty at Afikpo. So, there is no bomb blast or explosion in Ebonyi. The general public should disregard the information.
Odah who said the police officer was an operative of MOPOL 32 and not a suicide bomber as claimed by many, mistakenly hit the lead of his grenade which was hanging on his waist.
His remains had been evacuated to a mortuary.
