Daily Independent (Lagos)
Austin Oboh
1 June 2011
analysis
Lagos — Some parts of Nigeria appear to have been thrown into an orgy of senseless death as innocent Nigerians became targets of bomb attacks by terrorists who were, perhaps, unable to sabotaged the May 29 events.
Multiple blasts rocked at least three states in the North on Sunday and Monday after the inauguration ceremonies in Abuja and 26 states where governorship election was held in April. Critics have decried the situation, describing it as the agenda of the devil himself. From the government, there has been nothing more than the usual platitudes and empty threats of severe punishment for the perpetrators, and it would appear that Nigeria faces a threat of total collapse as long as security agencies fail to get to the bottom of this reign of terror.
The multiple blasts which rocked the country, commentators have claimed, illustrate the challenges facing President Goodluck Jonathan who is presently faced with the task of uniting a country that was political shaken in the running to the presidential election on account of the zoning controversy.
Threats by groups believed to have been acting under the auspices of Boko Haram had threatened to bomb venue of the presidential inauguration in Abuja where notable African leaders were expected as guests.
A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaib, said stringent security measures had been taken to prevent the attacks on inauguration day.
“Telecommunications operators blocked service in Abuja yesterday and government took so many other measures to prevent this, but it is unfortunate that this still happened,” he said, and revealed that “the Agency moved in quickly, otherwise this would have been even worse.”
One bomb went off Sunday at a beer garden in Zuba, near Nigeria’s capital, killing two people and wounding at least 11, Shuaib said.
Another explosion in the northern city of Zaria on Sunday also targeted a bar hours after the inauguration, police spokesman Aminu Lawal said. He said police were still looking into how many may have been wounded in that blast.
And on Monday, two teenagers were injured after stepping on explosives in Zaria, Lawal said.
In Maiduguri a bomb targeted an army patrol vehicle, Lt. Abubakar Abdullahi said, adding that there were no casualties and five arrests were made after the incident.
No one has so far claimed responsibility for any of the blasts.
“For now we are trying to gather intelligence on the perpetrators, make sure the victims are attended to, and investigate the matter,” national police spokesman Olusola Amore said of the blasts around the country.
Bauchi, one of the places here the explosions took place, already has a history of sectarian violence and was a scene of rioting and destruction after the April elections.
The state is also a stronghold of Boko Haram whose members have been accused of a rash of killings in recent months – attacks which have targeted police officers, soldiers and political and spiritual leaders.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sacrilege” in the Hausa language, has asked pushed for the implementation of Sharia law in northern states.
Security agencies blame the group for an explosion at a hotel in April that killed three people and wounded 14 others in Maiduguri, a city close to Bauchi, only days before the state’s gubernatorial election.
Reacting to the bomb blasts, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General A.O. Ihejirika, described the incidents as terrorist attacks because of the kind of explosives that were used while the police said they were investigating the explosions.
Military authorities disclosed in Abuja on Monday that the explosion that occurred at 8. 30p.m. at the Zuba International Electronics Market on Sunday, on the Kaduna/Suleija road, killing one person and injuring three persons, was indeed, a bomb blast and may have been one of the several bombing plots planned to embarrass the nation during the inauguration of President at Eagle Square.
They also revealed that the successful detonation of the bomb in a relaxation spot may have been made possible following the decision of security agencies to unblock communication facilities which had earlier been jammed from 11am to 8pm, for security reasons in the Federal Capital Territory.
FCT Police Spokesman, Superintendent of Police Jimoh Moshood, told journalists that the Anti-terrorists squad and the Police bomb disposal unit who had cordoned off the entire Zuba Market and were combing the surroundings to ensure that more explosives were not left behind was yet to make arrests.
Security arms claim that “the explosion of the bombs in Bauchi Mammy market which killed 13 persons and injured 40 others may be a kind of revenge on the military for foiling all attempts by these groups to successfully execute their plots of causing mayhem at the inauguration in the state.”
The Barracks Commander, Brigadier- General Agbo Robinson, said the bombs went off at “exactly 8 pm when people were relaxing” and that all victims were civilians.
He spoke just as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, said a lot of security measures had been put in place to avoid a re-currence and that an important security element was the cooperation of the general public. He therefore advised members of the public to be vigilant and watch out for strange elements and character, so as to apprehend terrorists before they strike.
He said: “The security agents in the state cannot fight terrorism alone, it is the collaborative effort of everybody in the state. That is why we are appealing that members of the public should always be on alert and report any suspicious movements.”
The COAS also disclosed that 40 people were injured in the blast at the Mammy Market of the military barracks, and remarked that no soldier was among the casualties but some policemen were among those killed or injured.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday, after an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas, Lt General Ihejirika said the attack was an act of terrorism. He said the bomb blast at the Bauchi military barracks was a wakeup call for the army to redouble its efforts to fight the menace of terrorism.
The army boss who also visited the MRS where some of the casualties were admitted was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Division, Jos, Major General Sunday Idoko; the commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Agbo Robinson, among other top military chiefs.
Ihejirika said measures would be taken to address the porosity of most barracks in the country, which made it possible for the terrorists to infiltrate them.
“We are already taking measures to enhance our capacity to deal with all terrorist action through the setting up of a Terrorist Unit in the army to check terrorism,” he said, adding that one had already been established in Abuja.
Addressing officers and men at the parade ground later, the COAS assured that the army would not fail in maintaining peace and security at all times.
Ihejirika called on the officers and men to take their training seriously and be alert at all times whether on patrol or at checkpoints.
“We must root out all the bad elements and characters who mingle with us,” he said, adding that the soldiers should strike the terrorists before the terrorists strike.
The COAS assured the officers and men that the army authority would work out new approaches that would enhance their capacity to deal with the enemy.
He then condoled with the families of those who were affected in the triple bomb blasts assuring that the army had resolved to tackle the problem of insecurity and would work in close partnership with other security agencies.
Another set of explosions occurred less than 24 hours after Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, in his inaugural speech urged residents to stop hostilities and allow peace to reign.
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