Police: Foreigners behind mayhem

KADUNA State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar yesterday alleged that foreign nationals especially from three African countries were involved in the acts of terrorism currently ravaging parts of the north.

The Commissioner told reporters in his office that citizens of Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon were among those involved in the terror activities and warned foreigners coming to cause disharmony in the country to desist from such acts.

In what looks like a riot act, Abubakar said the police will no longer care about the Africa Charter on the free movement of citizens and will treat foreigners arrested with iron hand, adding that the nation’s hospitality should not be taken for granted.

The police boss showed newsmen 15 Improvised Explosive Divices (EIDS) and their accessories recovered by the police, adding that each each of the explosives was capable of causing massive harm to structure and humans.

The police commissioner however refused to give casualty figures from the reprisal killings in Kaduna, following suicide attacks in Zaria and Kaduna on Sunday

The Police Commissioner said “we want to warn all foreigners entering Nigeria to breach the peace and cause disharmony among us to desist from doing so.

“We have arrested many nationales of Niger, Chad and Cameroon, who are  among those engaged in mass killings and bombings in Nigeria. We want to warn that we had enough of this. We will no longer care about the West Africa Charter of Freedom of Movement for its citizens if we arrest anyone from now. Our hospitality must not be taken for granted”.

The police chief said that the bomb maker was a well known mechanic living in Kaduna.

According to him, when the police raided his compound, they uncovered a shocking arsenal of IEDS, arms and ammunition, saying “when we raided the compound, he ran into the ceiling of his house. By the time we pursued him up the ceiling, he had escaped through a hole. This was last Friday. 

“The idea was to start the bombings on Friday. But we were quick to stop that. If not, last Sunday bombings could have been worse.

“Exhibits recovered include, 15 high calibre EIDS that could have caused serious catasphy in the state in un-intercepted.

“Others are A Honda Accord (EOD) with registration number Kano BE 520 BE KMC.; One AK 47 rifle, two revolvers pistols, one FNC rifle, three FNC rifle magazines, three AK 47 rifle Magazines and  110 rounds of live ammunitions”.

He put the death toll from the two explosions in Zaria at 18 including the suicide bombers, while  32 were injured.

He also confirmed the death of a soldier from the explosion at Shalom church in Kaduna, adding that “on the same date, some mobs had taken to the streets in some parts of the metropolis to unleash violence on innocent people leaving in their trail some deaths. 

“Other sustained various injuries. Some property wee also destroyed. Prompt intervention of the Police and other security agencies brought the crisis under control. 1046 persons were rescued but the Police and the army. They are now safe in their homes”, he said.

“The dead and the wounded were taken to nine hospitals in Kaduna. Some were taken to some hospitals that we have not known. So we are still comparing notes”, he said.

 By Tony Akowe, Kaduna            Courtesy Of: The Nation