Nigerian Newspapers
How bombs shattered the peace of Kano again
Four huge coordinated explosions from Boko Haram bombs left Kano residents with the usual fallouts: death, injury, trauma, pain, bereavement, loss of property, displacement and general apprehension
On Monday July 29, 2013, when deafening sounds of explosions shook the foundations of some residential buildings in Dakata, a Kano suburb, which is about 9 kilometers from Sabon Gari, the usual fear, stampede confusion, and panic associated with such occurrences immediately set in.
Frantic telephone calls were made from different parts of the commercial town for a clue regarding the explosions and their location.
After about four huge coordinated explosions from what was later known to be bombs from the armoury of the Boko Haram Sect, the usual spectacle of death, injury, trauma, pain, bereavement, loss of property and displacement confronted residents.
Available records from both the police and army headquarters in Kano, which coordinate, the activities of the joint task force put the number of deaths at twelve.
Expectedly, this figure has been widely disputed and criticized by some of the eye witnesses to the attack, who in their own calculations suggest that the least acceptable figure regarding the number of people killed should not be below 100 persons.
Such estimates are hinged on the fact that the explosions rocked a busy fun spot and an adjourning Pentecostal church where a church programme was in progress.
The worst part of the attack was that it happened after Kano residents had enjoyed about three months of relative peace due largely to improved security, which was beginning to enhance commercial activities previously threatened by the security challenges in the State.
The last time Sabon Gari was hit by terrorist activity was on March 18, 2013 when the Kano central motor park was attacked by suicide bombers, resulting in no fewer than 150 deaths, mostly of southbound passengers who had boarded the luxury buses that were targets of that attack. Incidentally the park is located on New Road, the venue of the newest attack.
A visit to No. 41, New Road revealed a gory sight. The area was littered with human intestine, flesh and blood. Some buildings suffered cracks. Shattered doors and windows were strewn all over the place. It was the same gory scene on Enugu Road and Igbo Road, which were also targeted by the terrorists.
Even though the police and army authorities have largely been silent on how the terrorists executed their nefarious plan, some of the residents revealed that the explosives were concealed in a wheel barrow covered with fruits, as the perpetrators posed as fruit hawkers.
It is believed that the explosives had remote control mechanism as they were detonated from a distance. Residents claim they only heard the explosions and saw dead bodies flying around.
Five vehicles were destroyed in the Enugu Road attack. Contesting the official figure of twelve deaths, residents assert that apart from 24 corpses deposited in the Mortuary of Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, made up of 20 men and four women, other corpses from that same attack were also deposited at the Mortuary of the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital and the state owned Nassarawa Hospital, where a number of the injured victims were admitted for medical attention.
Police statement on the incident, which was signed by its public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya said, “Multiple explosions at Enugu Road by Igbo Road and New Road at about 21:00hrs occurred at Tarven Marry Cool Spot and Zuma Cool Spot respectively.
As a result, 12 persons were killed on the spot, 12 injured while 19 vehicles parked at the scenes of the attack were damaged. “The corpses of the dead victims have been deposited in the mortuaries while the injured ones are receiving treatment.
The command has opened investigation into the incident.” Captain Ikedichi Iweaha, spokesman of 3 Brigade who doubles as the imagemaker of Kano Joint Task Force, said in his own statement that “At about 2105 hours, 29 July 2013(five minutes after nine pm), sounds of simultaneous explosion were triggered by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group between numbers 38 to 41, New Road and Igbo road by Enugu Road, all in Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government Council of Kano state.
Twelve persons were confirmed to have died from both incidences while a couple of others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospital for medical attention.
“This latest incidence could have been avoided if citizens maintain vigilance to observe when packages are dropped as it was in this case, contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media of the attack being one by suicide bombers.
You may recollect that the JTF had urged residents of Kano metropolis to keep an eye on their environment as members of the terrorist sect had planned to drop packages in bags or cartons in areas with high human traffic.
While the JTF and other security agencies will not rest on its oars to rid the state of all terrorist elements, the general public is enjoined to report promptly, all unattended packages or suspicious persons to the closest security agency for immediate action.
The JTF and other security agencies will continue to count on the support and cooperation of the people of Kano to achieve an atmosphere of peace conducive for business.” The Igbo apex body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Kano also reacted to the dastardly act in a statement signed by its leader in the State, Chief Michael Tobias Idika.
The statement said, “On Monday, July 29, between 9 and 9:30pm, terrorists invaded Sabon Gari, an enclave carved out for nonnatives and planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which exploded almost simultaneously at Enugu/Igbo Road, near International Hotel; and on New Road, directly opposite the popular Ado Bayero Square—precisely at No. 38, 39, 40 and 41. At 41 New Road, the Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church was bombed at the peak of evening worship.
Ohanaeze’s account can confirm 39 deaths in New Road and six in Igbo/Enugu Road; and also unspecified numbers of people who got injured.
The team of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano State Chapter arrived the scenes at about 9:30pm and witnessed the moving of dead bodies and the wounded by security agencies, mostly the Army.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, however, can recall that this is not the first time terrorists invaded Sabon Gari, particularly on New Road.
In fact, on that same spot where the latest incident happened, several attempts have been made to terrorise Nigerian citizens. As a reputable organisation, we call for adequate security of lives and property in northern Nigeria.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also commends the spirited efforts of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, David Omojola, in-charge of Zone 1, who was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, to the scene of the incident for on-the-spot assessment.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Kano registers its deep feelings over the unprovoked attacks on Sabon Gari, Kano, dominated by Ndigbo.
At this point, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to make haste and protect the lives of citizens resident in the northern part of the country, particularly, in Kano with undisputed status of boosting economy and politics in Nigeria.
To all the departed souls and the wounded in this grievous attack, we register our deep sympathy and only hope that those in authority, including all security agencies, would brace up and take decisive action to end this carnage – man’s inhumanity to man.”
The state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso visited the victims in their respective hospitals as well as the scenes of the attack on Tuesday morning during which he strongly condemned the attacks.
He said, “This attack on Sabon Gari is an attack on Nigeria because Muslims and Christians are involved. Several people of different ethnic extractions have either lost their lives or are critically injured. Whoever did this thing targeted Nigeria.”
The governor promised that the state government will continue to work with security agencies to maintain peace and protect lives and property and appealed to the people to continue to support security agencies to make the state safer and to go about their normal activities calmly, promising that the state government will shoulder the cost of the treatment of victims in hospitals.
He therefore directed the state Commissioner for Health to ensure that the victims get the best of treatment in public or private hospitals in the state and condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, praying Allah to stand by them in this moment of sorrow.
While the dead are still being counted, the injured are thanking God that they escaped with their lives. Emeka Mba, a staff of The Young Shall Grow Motor company, who is lying critically ill at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, said, “This is a tragic incident.
We are surprised we were chosen as targets. I think those that perpetrated this dastardly act must be fished out. I am in real pains.” Emmanuel Ani, an attendant at one of the relaxation joints that were hit, said, “As I am talking to you now, I cannot explain what really happened.
The only thing I could remember was that I was about serving a customer a plate of Isiewu when I heard a deafening sound that shook the ground and displaced people.”
At Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Mr. Alade Ezekiel, a 47-year-old printer told his own story. He said, “At about 9 p.m. on Monday, I came out to eat Amala.
All of a sudden, I heard a deafening sound, and before I could come to my senses, a sharp object pierced through my left hand and blood gushed out.
Another bomb exploded and before I could manage to escape, another object pierced my leg. At this time, I could not move. The only thing I could do was to crawl. Soon after, a soldier came and rescued me.”
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: National Mirror Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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