[1] The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its becoming one of the country's principal higher-education institutions.

The explosion killed four people, including Professor Aliyu Mani and one of the attackers, and injuring seventeen.

[23] Another attacker, a girl of about 12 years of age, was reportedly shot by police as she approached the university, detonating her explosives and killing her.

[24] The number of attackers involved has varied between reports, but one of the bombers was believed to be a teenage girl.

[25][26] The university has begun digging a 27 kilometer trench around the perimeter in order to prevent Boko Haram attacks.