by Isi Esene

A suicide bomber has targeted the Shehu of Borno’s palace in Maiduguri, Borno State.

According to SaharaReporters, the blast happened around 2pm.

Hundreds of worshippers use the palace of the Shehu of Borno as a praying ground for their Friday prayers. A palace source told SaharaReporters that the explosion occurred as the Shehu was being escorted to the palace after Friday prayers.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar bin Umar Gabai Elkanemi, and the deputy governor of the state who were at the palace however escaped the blast unhurt. The explosion reportedly injured the ward head of Galtimari, Alhaji Lawan Makinta, and some children in the Shehu’s entourage.

The number of casualties in the explosion have not been ascertained. The Joint Task Force (JTF), police, and emergency rescue operations have put measures in place to secure the area.