Thick black smoke rose into the sky above the white office block in Abuja, the
West African country's capital, after the attack on Thursday afternoon.
Olusola Amore, Nigeria's national police spokesman, said two people - "
the driver of the car and a traffic warden - " died in the attack.
"The body of the bomber has been recovered and we have immediately
launched an investigation," he said.
The fact that its national headquarters had been hit will be hugely
embarrassing to the police force.
Boko Haram, an armed group based in Nigeria's
majority Muslim north, claimed responsibility.
The group has carried out similar attacks on police and army barracks in the
past, and was behind deadly bombs in Abuja during national independence day
celebrations last year.
But this is the highest-profile federal target they have hit.
It was also the first time a bomber trained in Somalia was used, again showing
how Africa's most failed state, largely under control of jihadists inspired
by al-Qaeda, is capable of exporting terror tactics far beyond its borders.
In July 2010, coordinated suicide bombers attacked two bars in Kampala,
Uganda, where hundreds of people had gathered to watch the World Cup Final
in South Africa. More than 70 people died.
Thursday's bombing suggests a growth in ambition of Boko Haram.
In a statement issued in Hausa, northern Nigeria's main language, the group
said some of its members have just returned from Somalia where they went for
training. This could not immediately be verified.
The group also said it planned more attacks.
"It's nasty, and it's significant, that they're claiming that they are
now sending followers to Somalia to learn how to do these attacks better,"
said one European diplomat in Abuja.
"They killed more people in the independence day attack, though, and they
have already been making statements about warning people next time so no
bystanders die.
"It's not exactly widespread murder they're planning, but we all still
need to be alert, even if this appears to be a domestic issue."
Boko Haram has no clearly spelt-out aims. It has said in the past it wants
northern Nigeria to be ruled entirely under Islamic law.
Although some sharia laws are in practice there, federal legislation still
takes precedence in more prominent issues.
Tensions between Muslims and Christians in the area, especially in the city of
Jos, has regularly spilt into violence, killing hundreds of people in the
last few years.
There are now fears that Boko Haram had joined with al-Qaeda's north African
branch, given the link to Somalia and the change in tactics.
Mr Amore, the police spokesman, said he had no comment on that. The diplomat
said, "I think it's unlikely, but it can't be ruled out".
