3 die in fresh Kano blasts
By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz, Yola, and Bashir Mohammed, Kano
Following the attack which occurred on Sunday at a military base in Garkida, Gombi local government area of Adamawa state by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, no fewer than four soldiers, and six civilians have been feared dead in a new attack.
Similarly, 30 persons were feared killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect in some communities of Hong and Madagali local government areas of the state.
The armed gunmen, numbering 100, had on Sunday evening, who were reportedly on a revenge mission, stormed military check points, police out posts at about 8pm in Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorbikes, state officials and locals have revealed.
Confirming the attacks yesterday, the state Acting Governor, Ahmad Umaru Fintiri, said four soldiers were killed during the attack, saying that “it’s unfortunate that four of our gallant soldiers were killed.”
A fleeing villager who simple identified himself as Marcus Baba in a telephone interview said a retired wing commander, Dauda Daniel, leader of Zar community, his whereabouts are still unknown.
Baba, a relative of Daniel, said the community leader was yet to be found.
“They killed 10 people in my village; so many had to flee, and as I am talking to you know I am in Hong town, and our village head is still missing,” he said.
The worst affected community is Mubeng where it was gathered that 20 persons were reportedly butchered by the marauding gunmen.
A local farmer, Dauda Moses, said “they just killed people; I saw over 20 corpse,” he said.
An eyewitness who identified himself as Lazarus said most of the people in his Lubeng community were able to scamper to safety before the rampaging gunmen got to their village.
He said the casualty he envisaged would be children and the aged who could not hurriedly make it to a safe location before the invaders got to their community.
It would be recalled that only last week gunmen also attacked Gaya community killing at least 13 persons.
Similarly, villages of Kuda-kaya and Kuduku in Madagali local government areas were attacked during which no fewer than six persons were reportedly killed as the marauding gunmen carted away with foodstuff and cattle.
“They attacked Kuda-Kaya and Kuduku villages killing at least six people and stole foodstuff and cattle,” said Mr James Abawu Watharda, chairman Madagali local government area, in a telephone interview.
The Adamawa state police command confirmed the attacks, but the police spokesman in the state, ASP Haa Michael, could not give details.
Michael said the command was aware of the attacks in Hong and Madagali areas, but didn’t have any details as it was yet to be relayed to the headquarters.
Similarly, a female suicide bomber and three others have been confirmed dead following the action taken by the bomber to blow herself up at the NNPC Mega Station located at Hotoro in Kano metropolis.
Confirming the death toll while speaking to newsmen in Kano, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba, said the suicide bomber posed as a customer by joining a kerosene selling queue at the filling station and decided to blow herself up, thereby killing three people with scores seriously injured.
Shinaba said medical authorities at the Mohammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital in Kano were working round the clock to rescue the wounded, promising to keep the press posted on any latest development.
Blueprint further gathered that a bomb-laden car was also discovered near the premises of the NNPC depot in Kano even though there was no official confirmation.
