Bomb Explosion Kills 30 In Borno

Bomb Explosion Kills 30 In Borno

An explosion that occurred from a suicide bomber’s vehicle yesterday claimed no fewer than 30 lives and injured several others in Maiduguri, eyewitnesses and security officials said.

The incident caused angry youth who were blaming it on a former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff, to take to the streets, burning tyres and attacking every vehicle with the ex-governor’s photo.

The explosion, which was witnessed live by LEADERSHIP, occurred at exactly 1:30pm at a densely populated commercial area called “Post-office”.

It was the first major bomb incident in the city of Maiduguri in the last 10 months. The last but this one occurred in March 2013 behind the State Specialist Hospital.

A pick-up vehicle loaded with firewood suddenly exploded right in front of a military post known as Sector-4 of the JTF that is adjacent the state High Court Complex. The massive explosion affected several other vehicles, killing passengers, passers-by and a roadside trader.

Among the 30 or more victims were a traffic warden, a roasted-meat vendor and his four children, a woman who hawks food and several passengers in the burnt vehicles, according to eyewitnesses and LEADERSHIP checks.

Our reporter who was at the scene at the time it occurred saw several people with blood-drenched clothes and injuries limping or scampering out of the area.

The state police commissioner, Lawan Tanko, said his men had counted 17 corpses as at 2pm, even as he said “we are still counting; I have instructed our officers to go round the UMTH and the State Specialist Hospital to confirm if there are other corpses we have not recorded”.

He confirmed that “the suicide bomber detonated a pickup van loaded with firewood in the middle of the road at about 1:30pm”.

Charred corpses and fragmented body parts littered both lanes of the road as fire-fighters and aid workers arrived at the scene some 30 minutes later.

About an hour later, angry youth who were pointing accusing fingers at the former state governor, who visited the city at the weekend, for being the cause of the explosion, took to the streets in violent protest. The youth who mobilised in their multitude began to attack any vehicle they saw with the posters of Sheriff and that of the state’s deputy governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha.

The angry youth carrying APC campaign posters and putting on its vests also set ablaze the campaign office of the ex-governor  located near the First Bank building on Kashim Ibrahim Road. The youth, who were carrying sticks, machetes and clubs, had attempted to advance towards the GRA house of the ex-governor as well as that of the state deputy governor before they were intercepted by the security operatives who blocked all the major roads.

Along the Damboa Road area of Maiduguri, angry youth who barricaded major road junctions with burning tyres had also advanced towards the home of the ex-governor’s father, Alhaji  Galadima Modu Sheriff, but were intercepted by armed policemen of the Counter-terrorists Unit.

The youth were seen in the major streets of Maiduguri until about 5pm, screening vehicles with campaign posters of either the deputy governor or ex-governor Sheriff and smashing their windscreens and, in some cases, maiming the drivers and passengers who dared them.

“We are going see the end of Ali Sheriff and his accomplice, Zannah Mustapha, who had brought this calamity to us. They are behind this bomb explosion,” said a young man as he smashed a vehicle’s windscreen.

The state police commissioner, Tanko Lawan, who condemned the youth’s rampage, said it will be wrong to turn the bomb explosion incident into politics. “There is nothing political that has to do with this incident,” he said.

In a statement issued by the spokesman of Governor Kashim Shettima, Malam Isa Umar Gusau, the governor “condemns in strong terms today’s bomb explosion in Maiduguri which came at a time return of peace is being celebrated by residents”.

The statement continued: “Governor Shettima described the incident as most cruel, evil and inhuman. He expresses his deep condolences to the families and friends of all affected victims and prays for the repose of those who lost their lives and the quick recovery of those who might have suffered injuries.

“Governor Shettima has directed the security to carry out a full-scale investigation on the bomb explosion which resulted in the unfortunate youth rampage that led to the breakdown of law and order. The Governor also condemns uprisings in the last three days in the state capital which he described as unfortunate even though avoidable.

“Governor Shettima has directed the Ministry of Health to ensure proper medication for all victims who might have suffered injuries with government bearing all costs of treatment.

“The Borno State government will take firm measures to continually protect lives and property of citizens. As part of such measures, Governor Shettima today met with the national security adviser in Abuja during which issues of security of lives and property of Borno citizens was the agenda.

“Governor Shettima is already on his way back to Maiduguri. He appeals to all residents to remain calm and law-abiding. The governor reminds citizens that peace is a collective responsibility that requires the input of both government and the governed through the exercise of constitutional and moral obligations, duties and responsibilities.”

Similarly, the military authorities at the 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, in a statement signed by the spokesman Col Muhammed Dole,  confirmed the incident, even as they blamed the attack on Boko Haram terrorists.

The Division said individuals behind the bombing would be decisively dealt with when found, after an investigation that had immediately commenced.

The army said the incident happened at a time the city was enjoying relative peace.

13 insurgents, 1 military officer, killed in Adamawa attack

Meanwhile, the commanding officer, Special Operations Battalion, Mubi, Adamawa State, Lt. Col. Beyedi Martins, has disclosed that his command killed 13 Boko Haram Insurgents during an operation on December 18, 2013, which also led to the death of a gallant officer.

Martins, who made the disclosure during a press briefing at the Command headquarters in Mubi, said the military refused to disclose the development after the incident for strategic security reasons.

He said when the Boko Haram struck the popular bureau de change in the town, he was immediately alerted by the chairman of the Bureau de Change Operators and he immediately sent his troops to the market.

Martins however said that when one of his officers was felled by the Boko Haram elements, he immediately went to the scene where a fierce gun battle that lasted  seven hours ensued between the military and the insurgents.

“When one of my men was felled, I immediately went to the scene where we faced the insurgents for seven  hours before we finally subdue them and killed all of them who were 13 in number.”

He said they have succeeded in killing two of the coordinators of the Boko Haram insurgents in the area, adding that, with that feat, they have weakened insurgency in the area.

“During the operations, we succeeded in killing two of the kingpins that were usually behind attacks in Mubi, namely  Abdul Baki and Abdul Razak, and, with that feat, I believe that insurgency in this area will become a thing of the past.”

The military also showcased the cache of weapons that was confiscated from the insurgents which includes eight AK 47 assault rifles, one police teargas gun, one rocket-propelled grenade, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Martins also handed over the money and other valuable items recovered from the insurgents, which included the sum of N3. 5million, 12.5 million Cameroon Francs as well as 50,000 Central African Republic Francs.

Responding on behalf of his members, the chairman of Bureau De Change Operators, Alhaji Mohammed Nuhu, expressed gratitude to God and the military for the development.

“This is the second time the military would be recovering our money from the insurgents.

“We are very grateful to the army and pray for their continuous successes,” Nuhu said.

The chairman of Mubi Chambers of Commerce, Alhaji Abdulkadir Musa, also commended the military for their effort in protecting life and property in Mubi.

Maiduguri Bombings: Borno Rep wants security agencies to investigate blasts

A member of the House of Representatives representing Maiduguri Federal Constituency, Hon. Kaka Kyari Gujbawu, yesterday asked security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the reasons behind renewed attacks in the hitherto peaceful constituency.

In a press release signed by the lawmaker, he said the “renewed violence is a rude shock”, adding that the preceding events of the last two days which culminated in the explosion of IED in Maiduguri after an uninterrupted reign of peace calls for thorough investigation.

In the release entitled “‘Not again, enough of this rubbish”,Gujbawu added: “All the security apparatuses in Nigeria should stand on their toes and stop the senseless violence in the region.