Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Troops Arrest Mubi Bombing Suspect
Damage from bomb blast in Abuja, Nigeria.
Written by editor
Nigerian Guardian

A KEY suspect in the terror bomb explosion that rocked the Kabang community in Mubi, Adamawa State, on Sunday evening has been arrested by troops deployed to fight terrorism in the North-east, who swiftly cordoned the area after the explosion.

   Meanwhile, as part of the strategies lined up in the ongoing war against terrorism, the Nigeria Police Monday commenced an extensive counter-terrorism campaign nationwide.

   Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.D Abubakar, has called on the citizenry to partner the Force and support its ongoing Counter-terrorism Enlightenment Campaign (CEC). He further urged the citizens to pay attention to the security and safety tips contained in the counter-terrorism leaflets.

   According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. A.C. Olukayode, which was made available to The Guardian yesterday, the suspect was nabbed as members of the public confirmed sighting him alight from the vehicle used in conveying the device that was detonated shortly before the explosion.

   So far, the 19 persons wounded in the explosion have been evacuated and are receiving medical attention in hospitals while 18 others have been confirmed dead. The statement added that patrol troops successfully repelled an ambush in Buratai community in Biu, Borno State.

   The troops, who fell into the terrorists’ ambush while on patrol, engaged them “in a decisive fire fight, killing four of them and capturing one alive. Also in Kawuri in Borno State, troops on patrol killed five terrorists in a shootout and also captured two AK 47 rifles and two vehicles used by the terrorists.

   In a statement to The Guardian yesterday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said the enlightenment campaign, meant to boost security awareness across all strata of the Nigerian society, would be sustained until every citizen is well informed of their responsibilities in this age of terrorism.

   “The public enlightenment materials, which are factsheets containing distress call numbers of the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), are designed by the police to educate the general public on their basic roles in the fight against terrorism and how to identify terrorists’ subterfuge and other known modus operandi of criminals,” it read.

   This is expected to help in protecting citizens from falling victims to crime, thereby improving overall sense of communal safety. Meanwhile, the factsheets have been translated into major Nigerian languages for wider reach.

   Reiterating the commitment of the police and other security agencies to winning the war against terror, the IGP enjoined the general public to insist on frustrating every step of the terrorists by remaining vigilant all the time.

   He further thanked Nigerians for their patience and resilience in the present circumstance, adding that such challenge could only strengthen the collective resolve to preserve the nation’s peace.

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