Bomb explodes in Gombe after Jonathan campaigned; police say President not target

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The police has said President Goodluck Jonathan was not the target of a suicide bomb attack in Gombe town Monday, contrary to speculations by some social media users.

The spokesperson of the police in Gombe State, Fwaje Atajiri, who spoke to ‎PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone, said neither the president nor his convoy was the target of the suicide attack, which he said was carried out by a female bomber.

Mr. Jonathan was in Gombe for a rally Monday and there were claims the president escaped a bombing attack after a blast occurred less than 200 metres from his convoy.

“The female suicide bomber and a passerby were the ‎only casualties, while six persons were injured but not fatally,” Mr. Atajiri said.

He also said the bombing occurred around the Water Board area of the town, far away from where Mr. Jonathan held his rally at the Fantami Township Stadium.

“The president was long gone before the blast and if not for media, he would not (have known of the blast) so he could not have been the target. The suicide bomber was heading to her target when the bomb she was carrying went off in an empty place prematurely because of the high level of security put in place,” the police spokesperson said.