Unending bloodbath: 19 terrorists, 10 others killed in fresh Boko Haram attack

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North; Okey Ndiribe, Henry Umoru, Ola Ajayi,  Favour Nnabugwu,  Ndahi Marama & Suzan Edeh

Less than 48 hours after innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood with many others sustaining various degrees of injuries in a fresh bomb explosion in Abuja, on Thursday, suspected Boko Haram terrorists it was learnt also struck   in Borno, killing 10 persons ; just as 19 suspected insurgentswere killed in a gun battle with security forces in Gwoza local government area of Borno state on Thursday.

According to our correspondent, the incident where 10 persons were killed happened along Maiduguri- Beneshiek- Damaturu road.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Bade (l); Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar (r) and other Service Chiefs during the day-long security meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 02/05/2014

Maiduguri- Beneshiek – Damaturu road is said to have remained a death trap with series of ambushes, particularly last year during which over 50 passengers and motorists were killed in the evening, before setting ablaze over 20 vehicles in a single ambush by terrorists. During the incident, the insurgents seized about seven vehicles which were abandoned by their occupants.

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Nigeria has condemned the second bomb blast that rocked Nyanya, Abuja on Thursday evening killing over 20 persons and injuring over 66.

In a statement by the embassy, it sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones or were injured by the blast. It read:

“The United States Embassy strongly condemns last evening’s explosion in Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed or injured in this heinous act. This attack is not only on innocent people but on a democratic nation itself. Lawless violence and intimidation have no place in a democracy. We continue to stand with the Nigerian government and people as they face the threat of violent extremism,” the embassy said.

However, on the killing in Borno, Saturday Vanguardgathered that “the gunmen suspected to have emerged from Sambisa Forest enroute a new destination attempted to cross the busy road on Thursday evening, sighted vehicular movement and immediately ordered the drivers of two moving vehicles to stop. When they wouldn’t, they opened fire on the front and back tyres forcing the drivers to have no option than to stop.

“Immediately when the terrorists rushed towards the ill-fated vehicles, they opened fire on the occupants before using knives to slaughter 10 of them on the spot,” our source narrated.

When contacted on phone for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin said, he is not aware of the incident, but a top security source confirmed the incident, adding that, “about 10 persons were killed while some vehicles were seized on Maiduguri- Beneshiekh road by suspected terrorists on Thursday evening.”

We will confront terrorists — PDP

Reacting to the ongoing indiscriminate killing of innocent Nigerians by insurgents, national leadership of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion and party to unite and join forces with President Goodluck Jonathan in exposing all terrorists among us in the fight against insurgency, just as it said that recurrent attacks by members of Boko Haram were no longer about Jonathan or the government.

In a statement yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh , the PDP noted that insurgents plan to destroy Nigeria and impose terrorism, adding that Nigerians cannot be cowed as terrorists will be confronted.

Metuh who noted that  ordinary people have remained victims of insurgency in the country, said that  Nigerians must realize that regular citizens have generally become targets irrespective of religious and ethnic differences and as such must stand up and join hands with government in the fight against terrorism.

Meantime, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA,  Oloye Jumoke Akinjide yesterday joined other eminent Nigerians to condemn the bomb blast at Nyanya  while also grieving with the families of those that lost their loved ones in the blast.

In a statement by her special assistant, Media, Ayodeji  Adeyemi, the Minister who  noted that the FCT administration was grieved by the latest bomb blast at Nyanya, however assured Nigerians that the government would do everything within its powers to put an end to the insurgency, just as she implored  Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used by persons or groups who were bent on frustrating the government.  She also urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the security agencies.

Metuh continued, “Nigerians must realize that it is no longer about the President or the government, neither is it about government officials, all Nigerians are under attack. Ordinary people and regular citizens have remained general targets of these enemies of our country.

“Hundreds of innocent Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike have had their lives brutally ended by the wicked acts of these terrorists. Our people, businessmen and women, professionals, including security men, doctors and nurses, lawyers, artisans, market women, civil servants, farmers, school children, clerics, artistes, old men and women and bread winners pursuing legitimate endeavors have been brutalized and slaughtered.

“Those behind these devilish acts seek mainly to intimidate, cow, frighten and destroy us thereby imposing a regime of terror, anarchy and chaos. They seek to decimate us as a people, destroy our common heritage and bring our nation to its knees, but they will surely fail. They cannot intimidate us, we shall not be cowed, we refuse to be frightened and we will not be destroyed. Let them know that our common resolve to live as one people under God remains irrevocable.”

Calling on the citizens to unite as one people against insurgency, the PDP said, “To win this battle, all citizens must come together and present a common front against terrorism irrespective of our religious, political and ethnic differences. We must refuse to be slaughtered by our enemies; we must show bravery, go beyond shedding tears at each carnage and forcefully support our government and our security men and women by exposing terrorist elements and their backers among us. That is the only way to put the enemy under check and ensure that the  blood of the slain was not shed in vain.”

Metuh who warned that it will never compromise its belief in Nigerians and the Nigerian project, urged Nigerians not to be forlorn, that a brighter future awaits the nation in no distant time, adding, “As a party entrusted with the sacred mandate of leadership, the PDP will never compromise or jettison its belief and commitment to the national interest. We remain steadfast in our belief in Nigerians and the Nigerian project. We reiterate that working together, our nation will come out of these challenges, a stronger, more united and more peaceful nation where all will live in peace and unity irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences.”

My brother left a wife and three kids behind — Brother of bomb blast

victim

Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased victims of second Nyanya bomb blast, wept openly yesterday after they had gone to inspect the corpse of their loved ones.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard at Asokoro General Hospital yesterday, Emmanuel Jeremiah, elder brother to one of the victims, James who led other members of his extended family said, “James lived at Ado, along Nyanya-Keffi Road in Nassarawa State.

”My brother was aged 43. I was in the village when I was told that he was among the victims of the blast. I came this afternoon  all the way from Zango Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna State. He was returning home from work when the incident happened. He had a wife and three children.”

Another relative to the late James who identified himself simply as Elkanah explained that “ it was James’ wife who called him to complain that after she heard the news of the bomb explosion, she called her husband’s phone lines but he didn’t pick his calls.”

According to him:” It was later that a male voice  answered and told us that James was a victim of the bomb blast at Nyanya. The male voice advised  us to go round the hospitals in Abuja to find out  where he had been taken to.”

Commenting on the security situation in Abuja, Elkanah who lives in Abuja  said the second bomb blast at Nyanya made him to feel unsafe in the city.
His words: “I think that the security situation in Abuja has become something to be worried about. Something needs to be done to cope with the security situation and it has to be done fast.”

In response to a reporter’s question, he said, “ Nobody can really say why terrorists are bombing Abuja. All I know is that these insurgents don’t mind who they kill; they are not bothered by who comes their way.”

According to the Medical Director of Asokoro General Hospital, Dr. Abubakar Ahmadu, about 11 corpses who were victims of the blast were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary last Thursday.  He further stated that the hospital received a total of 26 injured victims  and transferred 10 to other hospitals within the federal capital city. They include the public hospitals at  Wuse, Maitama and Gwarimpa.

The Public Relations Officer of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA,  Mr Sani Deki confirmed there was a total of 19 casualties as a result of the bomb blast. He further stated that 60 injured persons were admitted in various hospitals for treatment while six had been discharged.

No fewer than 19 suspected Boko Haram insurgents  were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Gwoza local government area of Borno state on Thursday.

The incident which lasted for about three hours happened when the militants stormed a security check point mounted by the military, leading to a fierce shoot-out.

A resident of the area who declined identification told newsmen on phone that the attackers, believed to have emerged from the Gwoza hills, took the soldiers unawares when they appeared from different directions.

The source explained that the invaders threw several Improvised Explosive Devices, (IEDs) into the direction of the military, before opening fire.

“But the insurgents suffered serious casulaties as 19 of them were killed in an encounter with combined team of military and policemen attached to the Counter Terrorism Squad (CTS), who were quickly mobolised to the scene of the attack.

“I cannot say if there was casualty recorded from the side of security personnel because we were not allowed access to the scene till the following day when soldiers displayed corpses of the insurgents killed in the incident and asked everyone to come and catch a glimpse ”, the resident said.

According to him, “by mere looking at all the slain terrorists, they were between the ages of 15 and 17.