THE Kano State police command has confirmed that 29 policemen, three State Security Service (SSS) officers, two immigration officers, one customs official and a total of 150 civilians and a journalist were killed by extremists during the massacre in the state last Friday. This is just as the police confirmed that eight more cars were discovered to have bombs planted in them. “The command is made to inform the general public on the sad state of security and ugly incident of Friday, 20th January, 2012. It was a day on which some extremists launched sporadic attacks with bombs and assault rifles in various parts of the state.” Kano State police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Idris, who said this in a press release made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Monday night, stated that the areas affected are the police zonal headquarters on Bayero University Road, whereby a suicide bomber drove a car forcibly through the gates and detonated a bomb which destroyed parts of the building. According to the statement, “same group of terrorists launched an attack at Farm Centre and Zaria Road police division, Immigration, Passport Office, located at Farm Centre, SSS headquarters at Giginyu quarters, the official residence of the AIG Zone 1 and St. Louis Secondary School, simultaneously. The police stated that at the command headquarters, Bompai, two cars heavily loaded with explosive devices, primed for suicide mission, were resisted by the police. The first suicide bomber drove through the JFK end of Bompai barracks, and when resisted by the officers on duty, detonated on the road and could not have an access to the barracks.” The press release added that the second vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was sporadically fired at by the police. It ran into the wall and could not have access into the state command headquarters. The driver, while attempting to escape, was shot and the explosives were demobilised by the men of the explosive ordinance device. He explained that the state command was able to recover 10 different makes of vehicles, comprising Honda CRV, Toyota Camry of different models, Honda Brahma, Golf, Toyota first lady loaded with improvised explosive devices at places like Sheka quarters, NNPC Mega filling station Hotoro, Tishama Goron Dutse, Miller road and police headquarters road, Bompai, in the metropolis. The release also pointed that the command also recovered 300 Coca-Cola size cans of improvised explosive devices at various locations in the city. “Eight Peak milk tins of 350kg loaded with improvised explosive device; 10 drums size of 350kg loaded improvised explosive devices loaded in cars in various locations in the city. “The extremists attacked and brutally killed innocent civilians who were going about their lawful business along Tudun wada road, Club Road, Cemetery Road, Abuja Yan Dusa, SDY Roundabout and St. Louis Avenue.” The commissioner also commiserated with members of the public and urged them to continue to support and assist the police towards protecting life and property across the state and wished all those who suffered varying degrees of injuries a quick recovery and prayed for those who lost their lives. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police authorities disclosed that a lone Boko Haram gunman attacked the Tandari residence of a Maiduguri High Court Registrar, Baba Loskurima (47), killing him at about 7.00 p.m., on Sunday, in Budum ward of the metropolis. Baba, according to an eyewitness, Badigma Kolo, was shot dead in the presence of his wife and children, before the Joint Task Force (JTF) rushed to the scene. Confirming Sunday night’s killing, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Samuel Tizhe, told newsmen that: “An unknown gunman approached the house of the High Court Registrar and fired several times into Baba’s head and chest with a Kalashnikov rifle, in the presence of his wife and children.” He said: “So far, no arrests have been made. But investigations are ongoing to trail the assailant that may have been going from house to house to kill innocent people.” The Field Operations Officer of Joint Task Force (JTF), Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, however, in a signed press statement said: “four members of the Boko Haram sect involved in the killings in Maiduguri and environs and have been under the surveillance of security agencies were shot dead in Pompomari area of Maiduguri yesterday.” He disclosed that various Improvised Explosive Device materials prepared for detonation were also recovered from the suspects’ Golf Volkwagen vehicle. He, therefore, warned members of the general public to desist from harbouring members of the sect, and that any resident that haboured such suspects should report them immediately to JTF for prompt action to save life and property. The bodies of the four killed sect members, he added, had been deposited at a hospital morgue for identification and autopsy.
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