Survivor of Abuja School Explosion Arrested After Hospital Discharge

Nigerian police have arrested Abba Saidu, a survivor of the recent explosion at the Almajiri Tsangaya Modern School in the Kuchibuyi community, Kubwa, Abuja. Saidu was taken into custody shortly after being discharged from the hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the blast.

The explosion, which occurred at the Tsangayar Sani Uthman Islamic School in Bwari Area Council, was reportedly caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) brought in by three individuals from Katsina who claimed to be Islamic teachers. The blast killed two people, including a young boy whose body was found mutilated, while another individual was critically injured.

Saidu, who was severely wounded, was first treated at Kubwa General Hospital before being transferred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada due to the severity of his condition. He remained there for about a week before being discharged. However, his elder brother, Salisu Dungu, revealed that police officers had been monitoring him throughout his stay.

Dungu explained that he had initially stayed with Saidu at the hospital before handing over caregiving duties to their brother, Nura. Later, he was informed that the police had taken Saidu to their office in Life Camp before moving him to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He expressed concern over Saidu’s continued detention, stating that his brother had already spent nearly two weeks in police custody. According to Saidu, the explosion occurred when one of the deceased victims, Harisu Lawan, found the device while scavenging for sweet potatoes in a nearby farm.

Meanwhile, Iliya Shuaibu, the father of another injured victim, Fauziyya Ilyasu, criticised the police’s handling of the situation. He also noted that the school’s proprietor, Adamu Hashimu, has been detained since the incident occurred.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding Saidu’s arrest or the ongoing investigation into the explosion.