What could have led to one of the bloodiest Easter celebrations in
recent times in Gombe State was averted, yesterday, as operatives of the
State Security Service(SSS) discovered 60 Improvised Explosive Devices
planted in different locations at the British Cotton Ginnery Area
(BCGA) of the metropolis.
They were programmed to explode yesterday, the eve of Easter Friday.
Policemen from bomb disposal unit of Kano State Police Command packing defused home made bombs made from cans of soft drinks. I
Gombe State Director of SSS, Mr Bitrus Asha, disclosed at a briefing
that four suspects were arrested over the intended attack following a
tip-off while one suspect escaped.
Asha explained that the suspects, who were paraded before newsmen were arrested between 12 noon and 1.30 P.M.
He said: “As you can see, there are a lot of explosives, numbering
about 60 prepared in tins, ready for detonation. So we are lucky that
the tins were recovered and you are even advised not to go near the
items with your handsets. Very soon, the items will be defused. We are
lucky that we have made the recovery.”
Asked if the suspects were attempting to detonate the bombs
somewhere, he said: “Definitely, going by experiences, they were meant
to be detonated and we have information on that plan.”
Mr. Asha could not however confirm whether the suspects were natives
or residents of Gombe when asked, insisting that it was too early to
know who they were but that they were hoodlums who never wanted peace to
exist in the state. He added that investigations were still on-going,
and that “it is only investigation that could prove to us whether they
are sect members or not.”
The director said that officers and other personnel of the service
had reinforced patrol in the state capital to avert any untoward
incident.
The incident has sparked off unprecedented tension and panic within
the metropolis as residents were scared to venture out of their homes.
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