Jul 14 2012
Boko Haram Suicide Bomber Hits Shehu’s Palace, Mosque
From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
A SUICIDE bomber suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect yesterday afternoon bombed the Central Mosque inside the Shehu of Borno’s Palace in Maiduguri, shattering parts of the mosque and palace. The Shehu, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi and Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha who was with him, escaped unhurt.
The suspected suicide bomber who was riding in a car, according to an eyewitness, targetted the Shehu and Mustapha as the duo were coming out of the mosque at about 1.54pm. They escaped as the bomb went off, but a soldier was killed while another military personnel attached to the deputy governor was injured.
Men of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police immediately protected and rushed the Shehu and the deputy governor to the Government House, Maiduguri while the mosque and palace were cordoned off by soldiers and policemen to prevent further attacks.
Speaking on yesterday’s incident, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said: “I am already at the scene of the attacks and bombings. The mosque was attacked by a suicide car-bomber at about 2pm today at the Shehu’s palace. I am here to ascertain extent of damage to both lives and property. Thereafter, I will issue you a press release.”
The attack came just as JTF men arrested 10 suspected armed bandits in two separate areas of Muna suburb in Maiduguri.
The arrests, according Lt. Col. Musa, were made following intelligence reports from some of the residents affected by the alleged extortion and house burglaries.
Parading the suspects at the 21 Armoured Brigade, Maiduguri Musa said: “These suspects, who are between the ages of
16 and 22, have been entering residences of people and dispossessing them of their money and valuables. When we got intelligence reports, we raided the hideouts of the suspects and arrested them. We have completed our preliminary investigations and would hand them over to the police today (yesterday) for prosecution.”
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