Unknown gunmen last
night attacked the country residence of the immediate past Inspector General of
Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, with heavy explosives in Ringim town in Jigawa
state.
night attacked the country residence of the immediate past Inspector General of
Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, with heavy explosives in Ringim town in Jigawa
state.
The explosions, which
started at 8:30pm, shortly after the Isha’i prayers, were heard all over the
town, while sporadic exchange of gunfire ensued.
started at 8:30pm, shortly after the Isha’i prayers, were heard all over the
town, while sporadic exchange of gunfire ensued.
Eyewitnesses told Blueprint that several explosions were heard from the direction of
the IG’s residence.
the IG’s residence.
The road leading to
the house had been blocked by policemen ever since the 2011 attack on the
Police Force headquarters in Abuja when Hafiz Ringim was the IGP.
the house had been blocked by policemen ever since the 2011 attack on the
Police Force headquarters in Abuja when Hafiz Ringim was the IGP.
One witness said as at
the last count, about 40 explosions were heard, while most residents scampered
to safety in their respective houses.
the last count, about 40 explosions were heard, while most residents scampered
to safety in their respective houses.
He said as at the time
he was explaining to this reporter more explosions could still be heard.
he was explaining to this reporter more explosions could still be heard.
Many traders left
their shops unlocked as they ran for dear life.
their shops unlocked as they ran for dear life.
According to another
witness, the explosions were directed at both the residence of the former IG
and the police station situated adjacent to the house as the policemen on guard
duty in the area returned fire.
witness, the explosions were directed at both the residence of the former IG
and the police station situated adjacent to the house as the policemen on guard
duty in the area returned fire.
He said there was fear
if pupils of a Qur’anic school which holds sessions in the mosque near the
police station were trapped in the melee.
if pupils of a Qur’anic school which holds sessions in the mosque near the
police station were trapped in the melee.
There are at least 200
pupils in that school, he said, and they usually come from different parts of
the town to study between 7pm and 9pm every day.
pupils in that school, he said, and they usually come from different parts of
the town to study between 7pm and 9pm every day.
There were
speculations that a bank in the area, Jigawa Savings and Loans, might have been
targeted.
speculations that a bank in the area, Jigawa Savings and Loans, might have been
targeted.
It was also not clear
if there were casualties from the attack.
if there were casualties from the attack.
A reliable source told Blueprint that the current trouble might have been linked to the influx of
refugees from Bama and other towns of Borno state into Ringim last Wednesday.
refugees from Bama and other towns of Borno state into Ringim last Wednesday.
The refugees claimed to
have hailed from Ringim, he said.
have hailed from Ringim, he said.
The source said: “Soon
after the prayers at the central mosque in Ringim last Friday, an announcement
was made that Muslims were required to render assistance to the refugees that
came from Bama and other Borno towns affected by the sectarian violence there.
after the prayers at the central mosque in Ringim last Friday, an announcement
was made that Muslims were required to render assistance to the refugees that
came from Bama and other Borno towns affected by the sectarian violence there.
“I immediately sensed
that something was wrong, quickly picked my shoes and left the place. That
announcement kept nagging me. It was only when these bomb blasts and gunshots
started that I recalled that announcement.”
that something was wrong, quickly picked my shoes and left the place. That
announcement kept nagging me. It was only when these bomb blasts and gunshots
started that I recalled that announcement.”
Our correspondent
learnt that the Ringim local government council had met over the issue of the
Borno refugees and mulled the option of assisting them or telling them to leave
the town.
learnt that the Ringim local government council had met over the issue of the
Borno refugees and mulled the option of assisting them or telling them to leave
the town.
Our source was,
however, unsure if the latter option was taken.
however, unsure if the latter option was taken.
The source lamented
that up till 11pm last night no security reinforcement had come to Ringim from
Dutse, the state capital. “People are left on their own,” he said.
that up till 11pm last night no security reinforcement had come to Ringim from
Dutse, the state capital. “People are left on their own,” he said.
Hafiz Ringim was
forced out of office on January 25, 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan when he
appeared incapable of curtailing the increasingly ferocious attacks by the Boko
Haram sect.
forced out of office on January 25, 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan when he
appeared incapable of curtailing the increasingly ferocious attacks by the Boko
Haram sect.
It was under his
tenure that the Police Force headquarters and later the United Nations’ office
in Abuja were bombed.
tenure that the Police Force headquarters and later the United Nations’ office
in Abuja were bombed.
It was reliably
gathered last night that he has been living in Saudi Arabia since his removal.
gathered last night that he has been living in Saudi Arabia since his removal.
A media report said he
had applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, but was yet to receive a reply
from the British authorities.
had applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, but was yet to receive a reply
from the British authorities.
According to the
report, his request is on the grounds that the Boko Haram may target his life
once he returns to Nigeria.
report, his request is on the grounds that the Boko Haram may target his life
once he returns to Nigeria.
He was alleged to have
informed UK officials that he narrowly escaped death in the June 2011 attack on
the Force Headquarters a few days after he had threatened to crush the militant
Islamic sect.
informed UK officials that he narrowly escaped death in the June 2011 attack on
the Force Headquarters a few days after he had threatened to crush the militant
Islamic sect.
Ringim allegedly told
the British agency that on June 6, 2011, his deputy, Abubakar Ningi, was
murdered alongside his police orderly and driver, an incident claimed by Boko
Haram.
the British agency that on June 6, 2011, his deputy, Abubakar Ningi, was
murdered alongside his police orderly and driver, an incident claimed by Boko
Haram.
He was said to have
also referred to the killings of former military chiefs, including the November
2012 murder of a civil war veteran, General Mamman Shuwa.
also referred to the killings of former military chiefs, including the November
2012 murder of a civil war veteran, General Mamman Shuwa.
It was not clear who
carried out last night’s attack.
carried out last night’s attack.
The Commissioner of
Police in Jigawa state, Mr. Theophilus Kayode, explained to Blueprint last night that some gunmen had wanted to attack a bank
in Ringim but, when they were repelled, decided to vent their anger on
residents.
Police in Jigawa state, Mr. Theophilus Kayode, explained to Blueprint last night that some gunmen had wanted to attack a bank
in Ringim but, when they were repelled, decided to vent their anger on
residents.
Source: Blueprint
