Nigerian police kill 'would-be suicide bomber'

KANO: Nigerian police said they killed a "would-be suicide bomber" seeking to drive an explosives-laden car into state police headquarters in the violence-torn city of Maiduguri on Monday.

"Our men succeeded in killing a would-be suicide bomber who attempted to force his way into the police headquarters while screening for police recruits was going on," said state police commissioner Simeon Midenda.

He said bombs made up of seven gas cylinders and a number of other containers were found in the boot of the man's car. Some 1,500 recruits were on the grounds at the time for screening, he said.

"Our initial suspicion is the attacker is from the Boko Haram sect," said Midenda, referring to the Islamist sect blamed for scores of shootings and bomb blasts in Nigeria's northeast.

The incident comes the day before a committee appointed by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to look into violence in the northeast is to submit its report to the government.

The committee was expected to recommend whether negotiations should be held with Boko Haram. (AFP)