BOMB BLAST: Shehu Of Borno, Deputy Governor Escape Death?
The Boko Haram sect is suspected to be behind the attack
The Shehu of Borno, and the Borno State deputy governor narrowly escaped being killed, as teenage suicide bomber strikes mosque
A suicide bomber, Friday, detonated a bomb at a central mosque in
front of the palace of the Shehu of Borno, the traditional ruler of
Borno State, North- East Nigeria.
The blast, which killed five people, occurred after the weekly Friday
prayers (about 2.00pm) which was attended by the traditional ruler,
Abubakar Garbai, and the State deputy governor, Zanna Mustapha.
Though the two men were not hurt by the blast, five deaths have been confirmed from the attack.
Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, Sagir Musa,
told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that five deaths, including
the suicide bomber, had been confirmed. Mr. Musa also said six people,
including two soldiers, were injured.
The JTF spokesman explained that the injured soldiers suspected that
the bomber, a male teenager, had a bomb on him, when he tried to move
towards Mr. Mustapha and the traditional ruler.
It was while attempting to stop the bomber that the explosion went
off. The heroic actions of the soldiers possibly saved the life of one
of the most respected traditional rulers in (Northern) Nigeria.
Mosque area has a history of violence
The zone around the palace has a history of violence particularly after Friday prayers.
The man who could have been the governor of Borno state, and then
governorship candidate off the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),
Modu Gobiu, was killed by men on a motorbike on a Friday in the same
area.
Mr. Gobiu was killed by the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lil Da’awati wal
Jihad, popularly called Boko Haram, who are also suspected to be
responsible for this latest suicide bombing.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the area around the palace is a well
guarded area where ordinary residents are prevented from going. Though
the mosque is under construction, Islamic faithful observe their prayer
under a tree by the side of the mosque. Praying there is however
restricted to permitted persons.
“In Maiduguri, we have no-go areas, just like the UN No fly zone. In
those no-go areas is a shoot and go, and the Shehu’s palace area is one
of those areas,” a Maiduguri- based lawyer told PREMIUM TIMES.
The fear of attack from that area, residents say' has prevented the
current governor of Borno State from visiting or praying at the mosque.
“Since the inception of the present administration, the Governor
himself never attempts to pray there. He has not gone there,” a senior
Borno government official who didn’t want his name in print for fear of
victimization said.
Blast marks new start point
Though the Boko Haram are yet to claim responsibility for the attack,
sources say the attack could be the sect’s response to ongoing efforts
by the new National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to get support from
the Borno chief and other Northern traditional rulers to stop the Boko
Haram Killings.
Mr. Dasuki, himself a Fulani prince from Sokoto State, visited Borno,
where he met with traditional and religious leaders over the activities
of the terrorist sect. The NSA said after the meeting that he had
gotten the contacts of some Boko Haram leaders and that he hoped to get a
ceasefire with the sect in place before the commencement of the Islamic
month, and fasting, of Ramadan.
However, Friday, exactly one week before Ramadan starts, the Boko
Haram sect seems to be mocking Mr. Dasuki by this latest attack.
Read our earlier post below.
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi and the
state's deputy governor had a close shave with death today as a suicide
bomber detonated his bomb just meters from where both were.
The incident happened around 2:15pm, immediately after Friday prayers at the mosque in front of the Shehu's palace. Witnesses said a youth of about the age of 15 was noticed walking towards the two dignitaries.
However, the suspicious manner in which he was approaching them immediately drew the attention of the security men guarding the Shehu who quickly tried to shield him. In the process, the bomb went off, killing at least 10 other people in the vicinity and critically wounding two of the soldiers.
JTF spokesman in the state, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the incident but said only 5 people were killed and 6 others, including the two soldiers, wounded by the blast.
The area around the Shehu's palace has been cordoned off and more soldiers have been deployed to the scene.
The incident happened around 2:15pm, immediately after Friday prayers at the mosque in front of the Shehu's palace. Witnesses said a youth of about the age of 15 was noticed walking towards the two dignitaries.
However, the suspicious manner in which he was approaching them immediately drew the attention of the security men guarding the Shehu who quickly tried to shield him. In the process, the bomb went off, killing at least 10 other people in the vicinity and critically wounding two of the soldiers.
JTF spokesman in the state, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the incident but said only 5 people were killed and 6 others, including the two soldiers, wounded by the blast.
The area around the Shehu's palace has been cordoned off and more soldiers have been deployed to the scene.
