21st June, 2012
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/KANO
A top source from the Joint Security Task Force, JTF, in Kano, northwest Nigeria, Thursday confirmed the killing of a police man at a checkpoint on Madobi Roundabout within the heart of the city by men suspected to be members of Boko Haram, yesterday night.
According to the source, “at about 10:30 P.M. yesterday night, terrorists in a Golf car engaged our men at a checkpoint on a gun duel resulting to the death of one of the police man on duty.
“The joint effort of police men and the Joint Security Task Force on patrol overpowered the terrorists who abandoned their gulf car and motorcycles and took to their heels. Though no arrest was made, one AK 47 Rifle, a gulf car, motor bikes and explosives was recovered from them.”
The source also added that the police anti-bomb squad defused Improvised Explosive Devises, IEDs, planted at Sani Abacha Youth Centre, very close to Madobi Roundabout.
“Our men from the anti-bomb squad upon a tip-off swiftly moved into Sani Abacha Youth Centre where they carried out control detonation of explosive devices already planted into the study centre by the terrorists.
“It was the sound of the control detonation that scared residents who thought there was an explosion. No life was lost during the detonation; and I can confirm to you that no arrest has been made so far. But the JTF are on the trail of the terrorists and we hope they will meet their waterloo soonest,” the security source who craved for anonymity further stated.
Also speaking to newsmen on phone over the incident, Kano Police spokesman, DSP Tanimu Dutse confirmed that apart from the gun attack by the extremists who stormed the area in a Gulf car and three motorcycles, several explosives were planted inside the Sani Abacha Youth Centre out of which three went off.
He added that the explosions did not cause any harm to lives and properties in the Youth Centre.
He added that the remaining explosives were mopped up and successfully defused by bomb experts of the Kano Police Command.
P.M.NEWS reports that this development coupled by fresh attacks in neighbouring Kaduna and Yobe states has further heightened fear in the ancient commercial city as residents panic upon any slightest rumour.
Just yesterday, it was learnt that residents of Naibawa quarters ran helter-skelter over sounds of gunshots which was later discovered to have been as a result of robbery incident.
Moreso, at about 2 P.M. yesterday, traders at the Abubakar Rimi Market scampered for safety upon false rumour of Boko Haram attack.
However, security operatives in Kano are on red alert as patrol vehicles of JTF, the Police and other security agencies are seen all over the major streets.
Helicopters hover the air even at midnight, just as plain-cloth security operatives have been deployed into the streets in search of information.