Security operatives have cordoned off Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following a bomb blast near a mosque at Lamusawa ward of Bundun area in the metropolis. Saturday Tribune gathered that the incident culminated into an exchange of gun shots at the Maiduguri Monday Market, causing traders and buyers who were preparing for New Year festivities to flee.

A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report claimed that at least four persons were killed in the blast.

It quoted the Nigerian Army spokesman, Brig Gen Isa, as blaming the incident on Boko Haram, the  group, which wants strict Sharia law and had carried out scores of attacks, mainly in the North-East.

According to BBC, Boko Haram had restated that it attacked several churches on Christmas Day, killing at least 42 people.

“There was a loud blast near the mosque just after the Friday prayers as people were trooping out of the mosque,” one Maiduguri resident was quoted by French news agency, adding “Everybody scampered to safety, leading to a stampede,” while another witness said he had seen four bodies.

Brig Gen Isa said there had been a “major incident” which had caused casualties but did not give any further details.

Some witnesses, who spoke to our correspondent around Bundun ward, also claimed that there were casualties in the blast, which occured at about 2:30p.m. shortly after the Juma’at prayers.

But when our correspondent contacted the Joint Task Force (JTF) Field Operation Officer, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, on the blast, he said it was not true.

Also, contacted, the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Hassan Mohammed denied the incident.

Though efforts to get the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Mr. Simeon Midenda, did not succeed, Saturday Tribune observed that there was  heavy presence of security personnel who were seen searching motorists and vehicles.

Also, other sources, who spoke to Saturday Tribune said, they did not know whether there was a blast, but  instead claimed that some hoodlums attempted  to rob a bank in Monday Market, which resulted in the exchange of gunfire between the robbers and men of JTF.

Earlier, there was rumour that the Boko Haram had threatened more bombing, which it claimed would be the mother of all blasts on January 1, targeting places of worship, cinemas, joints, security offices as well as media houses.

Meanwhile, the sect may have changed its operational tactics, following recent onslaughts by agents of local and international intelligence agencies.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the group is strategising because the government was reviewing its security operations.

Meanwhile, FRESH panic swept across some states on Friday, following a reported threat by Boko Haram to launch what the sect called a mother of all bombings on the New Year eve.

Findings by Saturday Tribune indicated that the threat forced most people, who had hitherto promised not to be cowed by the group, to cancel all public engagements in a number of places.

Unlike before now, the public apprehension has spread to some states in the southern part of the country with churches taking pre-emptive measures against any possible attack from the dreaded sect.

For instance, the  growing violent attacks of Christian worship places in the North by the group has instilled fear in worshippers in Ekiti State, as the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, has written letters to security agencies  on the need for  more security men at the Catholic Diocese’s New Year vigil activities.

In one of the letters dated December 30, 2011 and addressed to the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, Bishop Ajakaye, the cleric said he was writing “in respect of the New Year celebrations in the Catholic Church in Ekiti State,” saying “bearing in mind the security challenges we are facing in our beloved country, Nigeria, particularly the continued bombing attacks, all of us need to be security conscious and proactive.

“Therefore, I appeal that security measures should be put in place with extra vigilance on our churches, including other Christian denominations as well.”

In the letter entitled: “Re: New Year Celebrations,” Bishop Ajakaye stated, “I humbly suggest that our security agencies, particularly the Divisional Police Officers in the various local governments in Ekiti State need to be alert in the area of security of lives and property during the new year celebrations in their areas.”

He said, “for instance, in the Catholic Churches all over Ekiti State tomorrow (today) 31 December, 2011, there will be the celebration of Vigil Mass to pray for our people, Ekiti State, Nigeria and the world at large as we usher in the New Year 2012.”

However, reports showed that many Christians in Katsina State might not attend the vigil and service for the New Year, owing to the renewed Boko Haram threat to bomb places of worships and other public places.

Mr Daniel Sule, aged 48, said that, it was better for him and his family members to stay at home since no one was sure if the threats by the sect was true or not.

However, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Adeniran Oluwasegun, assured that necessary measures had been taken to ensure the safety of members in the state.

Oluwasegun said CAN had met with the security agencies and resolved that churches should report any suspicious movement around their premises.

In Lagos, the General Overseer of the Royal Family Church  in Ikeja and Ogun State, Reverend Tom Samson and Bishop Kayode Peller of Fingers of God Ministry urged churches to be extra vigilant.

Samson  asked church leaders and ministers to establish  security departments in their churches as a way of curbing incessant attacks from hoodlums.

He further advised churches that could afford to build a police station or security post around their churches  not to hesitate doing so as it would help ward off attacks from unscrupulous elements.

But some Christians in violence-prone Borno and Yobe states said they would not be deterred by the evil act of Boko Haram not to attend church vigil or service for the New Year, but that they would go and pray for the country.

They claimed to have heard that Boko Haram was planning a massive destruction of places of worship and security offices in the North.

Also speaking, CAN Chairman, Yobe State, Rev. Garba Idi, told Saturday Tribune that they (Christian leaders) had requested for official security for churches and Christians during the celebration “so that people can celebrate New Year without fear of being attack.”

The Bayelsa State Chairman of CAN, Pastor Israel Ege, also said churches had taken fresh security measures to starve off troublemakers ahead of tomorrow.

“We are going to be extra  vigilant about the influx of people and vehicles into church premises. I have informed pastors of the various churches in Bayelsa to ensure that all vehicles entering church premises are thoroughly checked.

“Unidentified vehicles will not be allowed entry into church premises on the New Year eve and on January 1, 2012. Beyond the Yuletide period, any vehicle that we cannot properly identified will not be allowed to enter church premises,” he said.

In Enugu, the chairman of  CAN in the state, Reverend (Professor) Paul Emeka urged Christians to be prepared as there was a signal that Boko Haram allegedly planned to unleash terror on churches and Christians in the entire Southern part of the country.

He said churches had been advised to tighten security in their premises, especially in rural communities, where many people had gone to celebrate the Yuletide.

Emeka called on Christians to use anti-bomb squad to protect themselves in church promises, adding that they could not fold their arms and watch members of Boko Haram killed them.

Saturday Tribune observed that in many communities in the state, Christian youths had been mobilised as vigilantes at gates leading to the churches, and the members asked to switch off their handsets.

In mosques, although they are very few with scanty members, security is all tightened to forestall any problem during prayers.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Nigeria Police and all other security agencies to deploy enough manpower to churches in Abuja and other parts of the country.

Security sources told Saturday Tribune on Friday, that the directive was issued to all security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim, on Thursday, during their closed-door meeting with Jonathan.

“The President is not happy with the current security situation in the country, where innocent lives are being wasted. Consequently, he has directed the service chiefs and others to rise up to the challenge and put a halt to the Boko Haram menace,” the sources stated.”

The President was also quoted as saying that Nigerians were now leaving in fear and apprehension, as if the government was not in charge, adding that this was the time to show that the security agencies were capable of dealing with the situation.

Following the directive, the Police Command, on Friday demonstrated a show of force around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stretching up to Zuba, in order to instill confidence in the populace that the police were alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property.

Also, additional policemen were drafted from the Force Headquarters to the FCT Command to reinforce their manpower against today’s (Saturday) vigil in all churches.

Consequently, the Command has drawn up its roaster to all the churches, to forestall any attack by the Boko Haram. The men are also being deployed with sniffer dogs to the churches.

In Abuja, the Central Mosque was cordoned off, as worshippers were not allowed to drive their cars 100 metres to the mosque manned by combined security agencies.

Also, all the roads leading to various security agency offices in Abuja were blocked to vehicular movement.

The entrances leading to the Defence Headquarters, comprising the Army, Navy, Airforce Complex, the Ministry of Defence Headquarters and the Force Headquarters were also totally blocked.

Comments (1)

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WILL THIS NOT BREAK THE COUNTRY?
written by Dadamac Ago Are, December 31, 2011

It seem Nigeria - my precius country - is on the brim of collapsing these fanatical islamic group will force the country to be divivded by all their babaric and animalistic actions killing innocent souls all in the name of serving Allah, this is insane

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