Hafiz Ringim, Police IG
There was pandemonium in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Tuesday as multiple explosions, which rocked the city, led to the death of 10 people. The explosions, which made the people to flee the capital city, were believed to have been detonated by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram.
While the explosions went on simultaneously, several gunshots were heard in some parts of the ancient town.
Although the Borno State Police Command, which confirmed the incidents, claimed that only five persons died in the explosions, eyewitnesses said 10 persons were killed.
In one of the explosions, THISDAY gathered that three members of the sect lost their lives when the bomb they tried to detonate at a Catholic church, St. Patrick Church, accidentally went off.
The members of the group had last week attempted to bomb the church, but only a part of it was affected by the explosion. All this happened barely 24 hours after a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheik Ibrahim Biu, was shot dead in his house in Biu town, a distance of 187km from Maiduguri, by suspected members of the same group.
Also, Gwange Police Divisional Headquarters, the Dandal Police Divisional Headquarters, as well as parts of St Patrick Church were destroyed by the explosions.
The explosions went off shortly after the state Governor Kashim Shettima visited and addressed the state House of Assembly, from where he later paid an inspection visit to the Baga Motor Park, as well as the Musa Usman State Secretariat, a stone’s throw from St. Patrick Catholic Church, and the water treatment plant, all within the state capital.
THISDAY source said gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram invaded the Gwange Police Divisional headquarters and threw several bombs into the station and after the explosions; the assailants, who stood back, engaged the policemen at the police station in gun battle.
It was also gathered that the police shot and killed three of the gunmen, while two passers-by were killed by stray bullets.
A source at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital confirmed that at about 2:30pm yesterday, five corpses were brought to the hospital. He also said 14 critically injured persons were rushed to the hospital from the Gwange Divisional Police Station.
Apart from the explosions at the Gwange Police Station, another blast was reported to have gone off in a blue Honda Accord car, which was suspected to be carrying some explosive devices, right in front of the gate of St Patrick Church.
Three occupants of the car, believed to be members of Boko Haram sect, were burnt to ashes while two passers-by were also killed as a result of the explosion.
A police man on guard at the St. Patrick Church, who pleaded anonymity, said three persons, including the assailants in the car, died instantly, while others were injured.
He added that the bomb in the car went off shortly after another one was thrown from the car at the church building which resulted in damaging parts of the fence and the roofing of a building within the church premises.
Eyewitnesses said the impact of the bomb that exploded at St Patrick Church, which was situated right opposite the Musa Usman Secretariat, shook the secretariat building and shattered the windows of the offices. Workers of the church were said to have fled the premises.
Details of the explosion that occurred at the Dandal Police Divisional headquarters were sketchy as at press time, but the police station building was defaced when THISDAY visited the premises.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lawan Abdullahi, said despite the casualties, the day had been “a day of victory for the police because we have gunned down three of the Boko Haram members”.
He added that one AK 47 rifle was recovered from the attackers at the Gwange police station.
Major roads in the town, especially those leading to the scene of the incidents and the Government House have been cordoned off as the streets were deserted.
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