Tragedy averted as mob lynches suicide bomber in Gombe

Tragedy averted as mob lynches suicide bomber in Gombe

Source: The Sun News

A suspected suicide bomber was lynched yesterday at the premises of Gombe Line Motor Park and later set ablaze.

The motor park was where a bomb blast killed at least 30 people three weeks ago.

Daily Sun learnt that the suspected bomber allegedly arrived the motor park carrying a sack. “He was prevented because he refused to allow himself to be screened by people at the entrance of the park.

On opening the sack, the explosives were discovered.
“The youths in Gombe captured him with the explosives.  He was thoroughly beaten and set ablaze outside Gombe Line Motor Park,” a source said.

Another version claimed that the suspected bomber forced his way into the premises of the park where he dropped the wired sack suspected to be an improvised explosive device.

“He tried to run away with a remote control in his hands but  he was arrested by youths, who beat him and put tyre on him, doused him with petrol and burnt him alive,” an eyewitness told Daily Sun on telephone.

A bold youth from among the crowd was said to have taken the risk of taking out the IED the bomber left in the park to the main road so as to limit the damage the bomb would cause if it exploded.

Officers from the police anti-bomb unit had arrived at the scene at the time of filing the report yesterday.

The State Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Kudu Mna arrived the scene almost immediately.

He told reporters that the impact would have been devastating if the devise had exploded at the scene.

He said he was pleased with the response of the police and other security outfits even though the suspect was mobbed to death by the youths.

He explained that the man tried to force himself into the park when the security men at the gate insisted his bag must be searched. A mob, he confirmed, later pounced on the suspect.

He said five components of RPG’s and other ammunition were found in the suspect’s bag, while police had since cordoned the area and dispersed members of the public from the scene. He also urged members of the public to be more at alert and security conscious.

It would be recalled that barely three weeks ago, a bomb was detonated in the park at about 10a.m. killing no fewer than 30 persons.