Toll reaches 21 in Nigeria bomb blast

Abuja, June 26 (IANS) The Nigerian government has confirmed that 21 people were killed and 17 were injured in the blast that rocked EMAB Plaza in Abuja, the nation's capital city.

The coordinator of National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, told reporters Wednesday that the attackers came on a bike and planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) by the entrance of the shopping mall, Xinhua reported.

He said soldiers killed one of the suspected bombers of EMAB Plaza in Abuja and arrested another.

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.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 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 occurring at EMAB Plaza, Abuja Wednesday. The agency deployed its personnel for rescue operations at the scene after receiving information of the blast about 4 p.m., according to Ezekiel Manzo, the agency's spokesperson.