The Ebonyi State Police Command has said the man killed in an explosion, on Tuesday, in Afikpo, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was not a suicide bomber.
The spokesperson of the Police in the state, Mrs Loveth Odah, said the victim of the blast was a Policeman on duty in the area.
She said the policeman was a Mobile Police Officer on special deployment to Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
She said the officer, Mr Idi Aminu, died as a result of an accidental hand grenade explosion.
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 but Mrs Odah said he was an Inspector of Police.
“He mistakenly hit the lead of his grenade which was hanging on his waist with his elbow resulting in the deadly explosion”, she said.
She noted that the police officer was an operative of MOPOL 32 and not a suicide bomber as being circulated on social media and other platforms.
Odah said his remains had been evacuated to a mortuary.
Credit: RT News