30th December, 2011
Ayo Oluokun
The Joint Task Force in charge of security in Borno State said contrary to reports, none of the three blasts that set off in the troubled city of Maiduguri on Friday occurred near a mosque.
Initial reports had indicated that an explosion suspected to have been set off by militant Islamic Sect, Boko Haram near mosque in northeast city resulted into the death of four people. It was also indicated that the blast went off as Muslim faithful were leaving a mosque after Friday prayers.
However, Mohammed Hassan, spokesperson for the military task force said none of the three bombs went off near a mosque. He added that the explosions occur near market areas in different parts of the city.
The military spokesperson said though the blasts did not result in any casualties, gunmen shot dead three members of a cleric’s family in a separate incident.
Eyewitnesses indicated that the gunmen came looking for the Islamic Cleric identified as Modu, in his home behind Maiduguri’s Railway Quarters area of the city, but and shot dead three members of his family when they did not meet him at home.