Nigerian leader says saddened by terrorists attack on university in northern state

Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari has described as "saddening" the terrorists attack on a university in the country's northeastern state of Borno early Monday.

Two suicide bombers attacked the University of Maiduguri located in the capital of Borno, killing at least five people and injured more than 15, according to local police.

A seven-year old boy detonated his improvised explosive device at a mosque located inside the Senior Staff Quarters in the university premises. The explosive device of the first suicide attacker went off when he was gunned down by a mobile police officer on duty who sighted him while trying to scale the fence at one of the gates of the university.

In a presidential statement in Abuja, Buhari expressed sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the university community and families of the victims.

While condemning the attack, the Nigerian president said it was appalling for anyone to carry out a despicable act of terrorism on a revered place of worship and ivory tower.

Buhari said those who planned and carried out the attack had no true understanding of Islam and reassured that his administration would continue to ensure that terrorism never triumphed over peace-loving Nigerians.

A professor who was director of veterinary at the university was among the five people killed in the early morning attack. Corpses of four students were also evacuated at the explosion site, said Satomi Ahmed, a coordinator of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency.

Terror group Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people since the current insurgency started in 2009, is believed to be responsible for the suicide attacks.

Nigeria has made considerable gain on the Boko Haram front, with its security forces operating in the restive region dislodging the Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, their last enclave in the country. Endit