Suicide bomber abandons vehicle at check point...

A suspected bomber, on Friday, abandoned a bomb-laden pick-up vehicle at a police check point on the Gombe-Biu road.

The suspect fled to an unknown destination after a failed attempt to detonate the improvised explosive devices at the check point.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene on Friday that the suspected bomber had concealed the devices with bags of maize, house utensils, beddings and other items.He was said to be driving from Gombe to Dadin Kowa-Biu.

According to the witness, the suspect first attempted to bribe the policemen at the Dutsen Kura check point near Dadin Kowa in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.

He said the policemen on duty refused the bribe and insisted that he should park his van for checking.

The source said at that point, the suspected bomber rammed the vehicle into one of the drums filled with sand which was used as a barricade, apparently for the devices to explode.

He said that on realising that the devices did not explode, the suspect rushed out of the vehicle and fled into the bush.

The suspect had earlier beaten two other police check points on the Gombe-Biu road before he ran out of luck.

Briefing newsmen at the scene, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Gombe State Police Command, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, said the suspect had fled to an unknown destination.

Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, assured the people that the police were investigating the incident.

He showed newsmen the vehicle with registration number, MUS 104 BR (Lagos), which was used by the suspect to convey the items.

(Nigerian Tribune)