- Bauchi, Plateau, others affected
- 12 suspected bombs found in bank
The Federal Government is not however helpless over the situation as it unveiled more measures to check the development.
It also announced a three-day national conference on terrorism for May in Abuja and raised trans-border security platforms with some neighbouring countries.
Also yesterday, the Nigerian Army warned members of the public of closing in on military convoys on the roads. It said the warning was necessary because terrorists could capitalise on such cases to strike. The Army said it would no longer treat any motorists, who flout the order with levity.
In the fresh efforts to shield the country’s borders from the continuous infiltration of arms and security risk persons, the government yesterday signed an agreement establishing a trans-border security committee with the Republic of Cameroun.
The move is also part of efforts at engaging Nigeria’s neighbours more intensely in fulfilment of the neighbourhood diplomacy component of the new foreign policy.
Before yesterday, Nigeria had upped the ante of its joint security collaboration with Niger Republic, as the Boko Haram threat got worrisome.
Yesterday’s event marked a turning point in open joint security collaboration to fight terrorism on Nigeria’s eastern frontiers.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, while signing the pact on behalf of Nigeria, noted that Nigeria attached great importance to the collaboration on terrorism.
The minister said the event demonstrates the ability and political will of the two countries to collectively address the challenges in the sub-region.
Vice-Prime Minister and Minister Delegate at the Presidency of Cameroun, Mr. Amadou Ali, who represented his country, said the joint security committee was set up in the interest of both countries.
The conference on terrorism, which is slated for May this year, is a collaboration among the Directorate of State Security, the National Orientation Agency and a group, Homeland.
Chairman of the local organising committee of the event, Brig-Gen. Soyemi Sofoluwe (rtd), told journalists in Abuja that it would help decision and policy makers in evolving policies that would help to control terrorism, re-orientate Nigerians towards maintaining a peaceful and stable nation through the right attitudes, and protection of innocent citizens and foreigners doing legitimate business in Nigeria against harassment and bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice.
It was another day of killing yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as an immigration officer, identified as Kolawole Olayinka, was killed at his Gwange residence.
Eyewitness said before killing Kolawole, the gunmen burnt Gomari Constain Primary School at 5.45 a.m. and a store.
They allegedly came in an unmarked vehicle and fired several gunshots into Kolawole’s head and chest and then took his laptop and a briefcase.
The state Police Commissioner, Simeon Midenda, commenting on the incident, said: “I am first hearing the attacks and killing from you. We are yet to get the report from our Gwange area commander. Certainly, there was no official report from the police area command, where the crime has been allegedly committed by the suspected gunmen.”
A senior official of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) however, confirmed to The Guardian that: “One of our officers was shot and killed by suspected gunmen at his Gwange residence today (yesterday) at 8.35 a.m.
Kolawole was about to leave his passport office at the Customs area, when the armed men struck and shot him in the head and chest, before slumping to the ground dead.”
Gunmen also killed Lawan Yawmi, the ward head of Jajiberi in Geidam Local Council of Yobe State.
Yawmi was killed in his residence before his wife and children on Monday at about 7.00 p.m.
The gunmen allegedly trailed the victim from the Mosque to his house before firing several bullets into his head and fled.
The state Police Commissioner Tanko Lawan, said: “We received the report of the attack and killing of the ward head of Jajiberi last night from our Geidam area commander,” adding that the ward head was issued a threat letter by the killers to vacate his residence. .
Another set of gunmen struck in Jama’are area of Bauchi State on Monday evening and threw bombs at a police station and a bank. A policeman was confirmed killed and another injured in one of the incidents.
A witness said they heard the sound of the explosion at 9.00 p.m., which caused pandemonium in the area.
The Chairman of Jama’are Local Council, Adamu Suleiman, said the bank and the police station were damaged by the blasts
He claimed that 12 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were found inside the bank.
The Police Commissioner Ikewachukwu Aduba, who confirmed the attack, said he had just returned from the scene of the attacks.
Two persons were also killed yesterday at Fill Ball area in Nasarawa Gwom of Jos North Local Council of Plateau State.
According to an eyewitness, one of the incidents occurred when a commercial motorcyclist conveying a passenger to Terminus Area ran into some irate youths.
He said they immediately dragged the passenger down and stabbed him to death but the motorcyclist was rescued by the security operatives.
The attention of the men of the military Special Task Force (STF) was allegedly drawn to the second victim, who took the body to an undisclosed destination.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Samuel Dabai, confirmed the incident. He said the body that was found by the roadside. “You cannot be too sure that he is dead because if one goes closely, there is still element of breath in him.”
Meanwhile, Governor Jonah Jang has urged the National Assembly members from the state to work hard to ensure that the proposal of the Attorneys-General of Northern States to sanction clerics who preach inflammatory messages is passed into law in the entire region.
He stated this yesterday when the federal lawmakers from the state came to commiserate with him over the bomb blast at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) headquarters in Jos last Sunday.
Source: Guardian
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