…kill seven officers
Less than one week after the declaration of a ceasefire by the
Boko Haram Islamic sect, gunmen yesterday struck in some states in the North,
leaving seven policemen and one civilian dead.
Boko Haram Islamic sect, gunmen yesterday struck in some states in the North,
leaving seven policemen and one civilian dead.
The onslaught began late on Wednesday and continued till
yesterday.
yesterday.
Also, two police stations and banks were razed in the attacks
that took place in Kaduna, Kano and Gombe states.
that took place in Kaduna, Kano and Gombe states.
In Kaduna State, suspected terrorists bombed a police station in
the troubled Birnin Gwari Local Government Council, leaving three police
officers and a resident dead.
the troubled Birnin Gwari Local Government Council, leaving three police
officers and a resident dead.
National Mirror gathered that the attack occurred in the midnight of Wednesday
and lasted for hours just as the police and soldiers in the area were helpless
and could not mount a counter-attack against the armed gang.
and lasted for hours just as the police and soldiers in the area were helpless
and could not mount a counter-attack against the armed gang.
And in Kano, gunmen in the early hours of yesterday struck in
the metropolis, killing two policemen.
the metropolis, killing two policemen.
The gunmen blew up the Bunkure police station with explosives,
according to sources, killing the two officers instantly.
according to sources, killing the two officers instantly.
The victims were simply identified as a sergeant and a corporal
on duty when the station was attacked.
on duty when the station was attacked.
A Kaduna resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said the
bandits in their coordinated attacks planted Improvised Explosive Devices,
IEDs, around the police station, which were detonated and followed by gunshots.
bandits in their coordinated attacks planted Improvised Explosive Devices,
IEDs, around the police station, which were detonated and followed by gunshots.
Another resident said two commercial banks in the area and other
neighbouring buildings close to the affected police station were razed.
neighbouring buildings close to the affected police station were razed.
“It was a terrible incident because after Dogon Dawan attacks
last year, this is another bloody one.
last year, this is another bloody one.
“Some communities were living in peace until yesterday’s bomb
attack on the police station. Two banks were attacked too. Three policemen and
a civilian were killed,” the resident said.
attack on the police station. Two banks were attacked too. Three policemen and
a civilian were killed,” the resident said.
Our correspondent also learnt that many people, who were caught
in the exchange of gunfire, sustained injuries and were taken to undisclosed
hospitals, even as millions of naira were reportedly stolen from the two banks
that were attacked.
in the exchange of gunfire, sustained injuries and were taken to undisclosed
hospitals, even as millions of naira were reportedly stolen from the two banks
that were attacked.
National Mirror gathered that the bandits that attacked Birnin
Gwari were part of a group believed to be hiding in a nearby forest.
Gwari were part of a group believed to be hiding in a nearby forest.
It was learnt that prior to Wednesday night’s attacks, the
bandits had launched assaults in several villages and districts, including
Kuyelo and Randagi on Tuesday and Friday last week.
bandits had launched assaults in several villages and districts, including
Kuyelo and Randagi on Tuesday and Friday last week.
The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mallam Aminu
Lawan, confirmed the killings of three police officers and a civilian in the
attacks.
Lawan, confirmed the killings of three police officers and a civilian in the
attacks.
He said: “We visited the scene of the attacks in Birnin Gwari
and I can confirm that three police officers and a resident were killed. We
have deployed more security in the area.”
and I can confirm that three police officers and a resident were killed. We
have deployed more security in the area.”
Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero also visited the scene along with
some state security chiefs.
some state security chiefs.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jubrin, has
called on the government to establish a mobile police or military formation in
the area to checkmate incessant attacks by terrorists.
called on the government to establish a mobile police or military formation in
the area to checkmate incessant attacks by terrorists.
National Mirror had reported that apprehension had gripped
Kaduna State residents over the influx of commercial motorcycle riders
popularly known as Okada, from Kano where they had been banned from operating.
Kaduna State residents over the influx of commercial motorcycle riders
popularly known as Okada, from Kano where they had been banned from operating.
Assistant Inspector- General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone
1, Mr. Olufemi Omojola, at a press conference yesterday confirmed the Kano
attack, saying investigation had commenced.
1, Mr. Olufemi Omojola, at a press conference yesterday confirmed the Kano
attack, saying investigation had commenced.
Omojola told reporters that a wing of the police station was
razed when the gunmen suspected to be terrorists threw explosives into the
station.
razed when the gunmen suspected to be terrorists threw explosives into the
station.
“One of the wings of the station was razed when explosives were
thrown at it,” Omojola said, adding that as at press time, he could not confirm
whether the perpetrators were members of the Boko Haram sect.
thrown at it,” Omojola said, adding that as at press time, he could not confirm
whether the perpetrators were members of the Boko Haram sect.
In Gombe State, two policemen were also killed yesterday when
gunmen struck at a checkpoint at the Central Roundabout in Gombe town while a
physically challenged who was passing by was also wounded.
gunmen struck at a checkpoint at the Central Roundabout in Gombe town while a
physically challenged who was passing by was also wounded.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, told newsmen
that the two gunmen who alighted from a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP,
about 6:15a.m., went to the policemen at the checkpoint, directly opposite
Gombe Line garage and sprayed them with bullets. In the process, a stray bullet
hit a crippled who was immediately rushed to an unknown hospital.
that the two gunmen who alighted from a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP,
about 6:15a.m., went to the policemen at the checkpoint, directly opposite
Gombe Line garage and sprayed them with bullets. In the process, a stray bullet
hit a crippled who was immediately rushed to an unknown hospital.
He said the gunmen wore caftans with masks on their faces,
stressing that the mask did not generate any curiosity because it was very cold
in the morning.
stressing that the mask did not generate any curiosity because it was very cold
in the morning.
The witness told our correspondent that he gunmen immediately
left the scene on foot through different directions.
left the scene on foot through different directions.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer,
PPRO, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, in a statement said the area had been fortified by two
patrol vehicles and men from the Rapid Response Squad of Gombe Central
Division.
PPRO, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, in a statement said the area had been fortified by two
patrol vehicles and men from the Rapid Response Squad of Gombe Central
Division.
He said that the hoodlums struck immediately the police team
left the area about 6a.m., adding that investigations had begun and the
culprits would soon be brought to book.
left the area about 6a.m., adding that investigations had begun and the
culprits would soon be brought to book.
Source: National
Mirror
Mirror
