Written by Hassan Ibrahim and Ishola Michael, with Agency Report Tuesday, 31 May 2011
EXPLOSION rocked Zuba, an outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, hours after the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan
on Sunday, leaving two people dead and about 11 others injured.
According to reports, the explosion occurred at a beer parlour.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the death of two persons and the hospitalisation of 11 victims of the explosion in private hospitals.
The Director-General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi said NEMA would take over the treatment of the victims, if the Niger State Emergency Agency, currently handling it, was overwhelmed.
Sani-Sidi also directed the Abuja Operation Office of the agency to move the victims to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital today for proper medical attention.
The explosion continued on Monday — in Zaria, Kaduna State and Maiduguri, the Borno State capital — with the children reportedly injured in the Zaira explosion, while no one was injured in the Maiduguri incident.
The Zaria incident injured two children near the Unguwan Juma community.
Earlier, a beer joint was devastated at the Sabon Gari area of the city, throwing the commercial hub of the city into serious confusion.
Although the police in Zaria have commenced investigation into the matter, an eyewitness told newsmen that at about 6.00 a.m. on Monday, the two kids, on their way to fetch water, narrowly escaped death when the bomb exploded. They, however, sustained injuries.
According to the eyewitness, “although no death was reported, those critically injured in the first blast were rushed to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving treatment.”
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Kaduna Command, DSP Aminu Lawal, confirmed the incident, saying it was an explosive device used to injure people at the ‘White House’ beer joint in Zaria.
As of last night, Zaria was calm as people were seen going about their normal activities but security was beefed up in the city and its environs to keep peace.
It will be recalled that prior to the inauguration ceremony of the newly-elected governors nationwide, many people in the state heard the rumour that members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect were allegedly planning to the disrupt the celebration.
But the inauguration ceremony in Kaduna went peacefully amidst tight security, while the state governor assured all residents in the state of security of life and property.
Also, a Monday morning bomb explosion on Baga Road, Maiduguri, caused apprehension among the residents of the city.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered from eyewitnesses that the bomb exploded at a roadside around 8 a.m. on Monday.
“We were on duty at the bank when we heard a big sound close by, but we later discovered that it was a bomb planted at a roadside by unknown persons,’’ Mr Simon Owoh, a security guard in a commercial bank said.
Owoh said the bomb was planted in anticipation that people would pass the road early in the morning.
“We thank God that nobody was around when the explosion took place,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Malam Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the story, but declined to give details.
In another development, the bomb blast that rocked the Mammy Market of the 33 Field Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bauchi, on Sunday, has been described as a pure act of terrorism by the perpetrators.
This is just as 13 people had been confirmed dead, while 40 others were wounded, as the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, directing that all the wounded be treated free on the bill of the government.
While on a visit to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Teaching Hospital to see the victims on Sunday evening, after he got news of the incident, Governor Yuguda commiserated with them and directed the hospital management to ensure that they were given the best medical attention required free of charge.
The governor, while condemning the act, also assured that his administration would do ensure it protected the life and property of the people of the state, while advising them, however, to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements around them to the security agents for prompt action.
Speaking with newsmen after an assessment tour of the scene of the incident, on Monday, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, condemned the blast in strong terms, saying that “with this, the army has been exposed security wise. We will go back and ensure that we beef up our internal security arrangements.”
The COAS added that “we have to re-strategise on how to deal with terrorism activities all over the country. This will be done in conjunction with other security agencies in the country. What happened is a condemnable act and we will deal with the situation with the utmost urgency it deserves.”
He, however, said many of the injured had been treated and discharged at various hospitals, adding that those on admission were receiving the best medical attention available.
It will be recalled that a bomb blast, which happened at about 8.30 p.m at a section of the mammy market of the Shadwanka Barracks of the 33 Field Artillery Brigade, had caused stir among the people of the area, particularly those who patronise the market.
Meanwhile, the market has been closed for public patronage until further notice.
In a related development, the police in Borno, on Monday, said it had received information about an impending attack by some suspected Boko Haram members in the state.
A statement signed by the police spokesman, Malam Lawal Abdullahi, in Maiduguri, said “we wish to inform the public that we have received an intelligence report on possible attacks.
“Some fundamentalists have decided to launch an attack on the people of Borno State. The group and other social miscreants have decided to team up with some politicians to terrorise the good people of the state, using the leadership of a dangerous sect from neighbouring Yobe State.”
The statement added that the police command had already mapped out strategies to counter the attacks, while it urged traditional and religious leaders to help to fish out the culprits.