Nigeria: 5 Injured in Maiduguri Bomb Blast

Leadership (Abuja)

Dauda Mbaya

20 May 2011

Maiduguri — Three policemen and two soldiers were injured on Thursday during an early morning bomb blast along Lagos Street, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The bomb is suspected to have been planted by members of the notorious Boko Haram sect.

Confirming the incident during an interview with journalists at the states commissioner of police office, the Assistant Commissioner in-charge of Operations, Zakari Adamu, said that four suspects had been arrested in connection with an earlier attack on Ibrahim Taiwo Estate police station, where members of the Boko Haram sect had launched an attack on Wednesday night.

He added that the police had not made any arrest in connection with the bomb blast, saying that efforts were on to comb the neighborhood to fish out the perpetrators.

Adamu stated that the Operation Flush II vehicle was on its way to its duty post when the bomb exploded.

He explained that the police believed that the explosive had been planted before the arrival of the vehicle, adding that any vehicle which stepped on it could have exploded.

Speaking on the attack on Ibrahim Taiwo Estate police station, Adamu said the hoodlums had gone to the station in three Golf cars and started attacking the station, before they were overpowered by policemen which made them to flee.

The assistant commissioner also stated that the police pursued the fleeing attackers and succeeded in arresting four without death or injury.

The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Alhaji Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar, expressed dismay over the attacks.

He also urged the media not to publicise the activities of the Boko Haram, because according to him “publicising their activities would give them undue prominence”.

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