Suicide Bomber Attacks Emir, Orderly Killed

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Suicide Bomber Attacks Emir, Orderly Killed

Written by James Bwala and Hassan Ibrahim Saturday, 04 August 2012

The Emir of Fika and Chairman of the Yobe State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Muhammdu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, narrowly escaped death when a suspect targeting him hit a group of worshipers at the Potiskum Central Mosque (POCM) in Damaturu on Friday.

The blast ripped off the arm of the police orderly attached to the emir, while attempting to protect his principal from being hit by the bomber in front of the mosque.

Six other worshipers in company with the emir also sustained various serious injuries, while the suspect instantly died before men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) arrived the scene of the blast that equally destroyed part of the premises of the mosque.

A witness, Mallam Isa Abu, told Saturday Tribune that the bomber struck at about 2pm, throwing the whole premises into pandemonium.

Confirming the blast, the Commissioner of Police, the Yobe State Command, Patrick Egbuniwe said the bomber attempted to kill the Emir, immediately after the Jumat prayers at the Potiskum Central Mosque.

He said, “one of our men attached to the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Idrissa, was seriously injured, losing one of his arms, while attempting to prevent the bomber from detonating the explosive devices strapped on his back.

“Some people were also injured and they have been rushed to the hospital for treatment from wounds and fractures they sustained in today’s blast.”

Some witnesses in Potiskum,however, claimed that no fewer than eight persons were killed, while several others were injured.

One of the witnesses said, “When we heard the blast and saw the emir being carried away, we thought he had been killed by the bomber, but later, we were told that it was his police orderly that was killed. Thereafter, we learnt that the policeman only lost one of his arms, but that a boy and seven others were killed at the scene of the blast instantly.

Meanwhile, the police in Kaduna have confirmed the death of a suspected bomber on Thursday night in Kaduna when his bomb exploded on him at Mahuta village near trhe Nationaql Eye Centre Kaduna.