Another Bomb Blast Injures 7 Nigerian Policemen in Maiduguri

Nigerian police step-up their patrols as tensions mount inside the country. An escalation of violence has erupted in various regions of the oil-rich state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Another bomb blast injures 7 policemen in Maiduguri

On July 16, 2011
BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri
Nigerian ThisDay

Another bomb explosion suspected to have been planted by members of the Islamic Sect yesterday morning has injured 7 policemen in their patrol vehicle at the Bulumkutu /Pompomari round- about in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Our correspondent gathered that, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted on the main road leading to Damaturu –Maiduguri road which was targeted at a police patrol vehicle, where it exploded at about 7:00 o’clock a.m, leaving seven of the occupants seriously injured.

Confirming the incident, the Joint Tasks Force (JTF) Commander, Major –General Jack Okechukwu Nwaogbo in a telephone call to our correspondent said that members of the sect planted an explosive device on yesterday morning which was targeted at a police patrol vehicle, and when the vehicle approached the area, it went off and injured 7 policemen, but not members of the JTF.

He added that, the JTF on reaching the scene were able to arrest some suspected members of the sect who were behind the blast. He said that investigation is going on to punish the perpetrators, even as he appealed to the general public to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.

Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima who was away for about one week for an official assignment came back to the state on Thursday night, where he visited some of the blasts areas, particularly in London- Chiki area where the JTF and the sect members had a gun battle penultimate weekend which led to the killing of 11 sect members and over 30 innocent people.

Governor Shettima while commiserating with those who lost their beloved ones and their properties promised to compensate them for the damages done during the encounter.