30th September, 2012
The Nigerian army has explained the reason for the bomb explosions and the gun fire that rocked the Nigerian northern city of Zaria Sunday morning.
According to a statement signed by Capt Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Army Public Relations Officer, the explosion was as a result of a controlled detonation of improvised bombs recovered from suspected terrorists belonging to the Boko Haram, who had massed the bombs for use at various places on Nigeria’s Independence day.
Two Boko Haram sect members were killed and 10 others injured during the raid at a hideout.
The statement issued in Zaria and signed by Capt Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Army Public Relations Officer, Depot, Nigerian Army, said that the operation followed a tip-off by some good “Samaritans”.
It said: ”In the early hours of Sunday morning, suspected members of Boko Haram engaged our troops and the State Security Service (SSS) in a fierce gun battle in Gaskiya layout, Tukur-Tukur, Zaria.
”Following a tip-off that Boko Haram are planning a major suicide mission in Zaria, Kaduna and Suleja to coincide with the Independence Anniversary celebration, a joint operation was launched on a residential building in Gaskiya layout to flush out the terrorists.
”During the course of the operation, some of the Boko Haram members were killed and others, including a woman, were arrested.
“lt was also discovered that the building was heavily loaded with explosives and being used as a warehouse for the storage of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”
The statement said that the explosives were meant to inflict maximum casualty on the army.
It said that a controlled detonation was carried out by army engineers, adding that investigations had commenced to determine the extent of the involvement of the apprehended people.
After the operation, the army shot at the suspected mini bomb factory which exploded and destroyed about seven houses and affected 20 others.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Niger State has confirmed the killing of two policemen by gunmen.
Mr Pius Edobor, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the two personnel were shot at their duty post between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Kpakungu Roundabout in Minna on Saturday.
Edobor said that they were killed by gunmen in a moving car which sped off immediately after the shooting, adding that the victims were taken to hospital, where they later died.
According to him, “they were not dispossessed of their arms and ammunitions.”
The PPRO said that the police was not suspecting any group or any person and that no arrest had been made,
He, however said that investigation into the incident had commenced.