Scene of the blast at Borno state secretariat

Boko Haram on Thursday claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed two police officers in northeast Nigeria, just days before a regional security summit on efforts to eradicate the Islamists.

The group, using the name Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), said in a statement posted on social media that the bomber “was able to detonate his explosive vest in the area of Maiduguri”.

It claimed “at least 15 apostates (non-believers)” were killed in the attack, which happened at about 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Borno State Secretariat in the city.

“Unfortunately in the process of stopping him, he detonated the improvised explosive device on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman…

“Sadly, the injured policeman died later,” Usman said in an emailed statement, adding that 18 people were injured and taken for treatment.

Mohammed Kanar, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, and an accident and emergency spokesman for the Borno State Specialist Hospital, also confirmed just two deaths.

Between 19 and 24 people were injured in the blast, they added.

Locals and street vendors earlier told AFP the explosion initially appeared to come from a passing motorised rickshaw, which went up in flames and was gutted in the blast.

Boko Haram suicide bombers have previously used public transport to travel to multiple targets in the northeast and wider north.