Sokoto Bomb Attacks: Police confirm Policeman, 3 others dead

A wrecked car.

Police authorities in Abuja Monday confirmed that four persons including two suicide bombers, one police officer and a lady hair dresser lost their lives in two separate bomb attacks targeted at the office of Assistant Inspector General, AIG of Police, Zone 10, Sokoto, and a Police Station located at Angwar Rago area of the state.

Seven persons mostly civilians and police officers were rushed to the hospitals for injuries sustained as a result of shock and broken shrapnel.

Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba who gave the confirmation, explained that the first suicide bomber tried to make his way through the main gate to the office of the AIG, Muktari Ibrahim to achieve his sinister aim but was prevented by tough security measures put in place by the force.

Mba stated that the suspected suicide bomber however, decided to go through a second gate that was securely locked, even as some policemen were keeping guard there.

“The suicide bomber rammed the explosive laden car on the gate dying in the process and injuring one of the policemen on guard. Before the officer could get to the hospital, he gave up the ghost. Six persons who were standing nearly sustained minor injuries owing to shock.

“In the second attack, the suicide bomber targeted the Police station at Angwar Rago but met it heavily protected by Police personnel. He then made a detour apparently to find another way to the station.

“On the road however, the bombs in the Volkswagen Golf salon car he was driving exploded killing the bomber and a lady hairdresser who was opposite the exploded vehicle”, the Police spokesman explained

Mba disclosed that security has been beefed up in the Sokoto metropolis and that AIG Muktari has deployed police re-enforcements including Police Bomb disposal experts and anti-terrorists squad to the nooks and crannies of the state to ensure law and order.

Boko Haram invades Damaturu Prison, frees 40 prisoners

Police spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, confirmed the incident

Damaturu— Suspected members of the Jam’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram,on June 24, 2012, staged a daring attack on the Damaturu prison on Gashua Road, and set free 40 of their members who were being detained.

A fleeing inmate was said to have been killed while a prison warder was injured during the attack.

Police spokesperson, Mr Frank Mba, who confirmed the incident, said unknown gunmen staged a jailbreak yesterday in Damaturu and freed about 40 inmates, adding that  a prison warder was injured and that one fleeing inmate was killed in a gunfight.

In another development, spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Qaqa, has said the sect was not responsible for bomb that was found in a mosque in Kano, on Friday.

Qaqa in a statement, yesterday, said: “In respect of what we heard in the media yesterday (Friday) that some people attempted to detonate a bomb in a Juma’at mosque in Kano, this movement Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad hereby dissociates itself from this act.

“We are fully aware of this kind of conspiracy by the SSS, following a similar pattern of their counterparts in other countries to tarnish the image and reputation of Islamic fighters, they will not succeed, God’s willing.

“Everyone knows that we are waging Jihad to restore the supremacy of Islam, which is why we are labelled ‘Muslim fundamentalists’,  how on earth can we then attempt to destroy a Muslim place of worship. This is, therefore, a conspiracy by those that are averse to the enthronement of an Islamic state, and they will not succeed by God’s grace.”