Bomb explosions: Military Task Force arrests six suspects


SIX suspects have been arrested over last Sunday’s killing of the Chairman of Jere Local Government, Borno State, Alhaji Mustapha Ba’ale and three others as well as the bombing of the Wulari Mammy Market in Maiduguri, where eight people were killed.

The Commander of the Military Task Force on ‘Operation Restore Order’, Major-General Jack Nwogbo, disclosed this yesterday in the state capital.

“We went into action immediately after the incident and ransacked some flash points. We arrested about six suspects, and we have already begun screening them to determine whether they have cases to answer or not.

“I counted eight dead bodies at the scene; about 15 other persons were also injured by the blast and were rushed to the hospital for help,’’ Nwogbo said.

He disclosed that security agents were still on the trail of others involved in the attacks who are suspected to be members of the radical Islamic group, Boko Haram.

It was learnt that another explosion took place in Tashar Kano (motor park) in Maiduguri, about the same time but without any casualty as the military patrol team targetted was not there at the time of the blast.

Ba’ale was appointed two weeks ago by Governor Kashim Shettima as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council and he was killed in his house.

Meanwhile, the Air Force Mobility Command Units in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has been repositioned for efficient operations to meet the security challenges arising from the Boko Haram crisis.

The Air-Officer, Commanding Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Air Vice Marshal John Aprekuma, told Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Asaba, Delta State yesterday when he visited the Governor’s Office.

The commanding officer disclosed that the eight Air-Force Mobility Command Units across six geo-political zones of the country have been charged on the challenges of bomb blasts and incessant Boko Haram killings.

He said the Niger Delta states would remain a no-go area for the Boko Haram sect that has violently gripped some parts of the North.

He explained that the Niger Delta Air Force Mobility Command in Yenagoa, which was established in February this year, is determined to provide swift response on security challenges.

He said to this effect, the command has air-lifted troops to Bauchi and Borno states to arrest insecurity and restore peace, adding: “Troops have also been air-lifted to Somalia, Liberia for peace keeping”.

He further revealed that the Nigeria Air Force has eight Mobility Command Units spread across the country and they have been charged with the responsibility of meeting Nigeria’s security challenges, he noted that the Command also engage in Social Responsibility Projects for host Communities.

SOURCE: NIGERIAN COMPASS