Bomb explodes near Jonathan’s campaign ground in Gombe

Bomb explodes near Jonathan’s campaign ground in Gombe

Tragedy struck the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, as a female suicide bomber exploded a bomb near the Pantami Stadium in Gombe, Gombe State, a few minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan finished his rally.



Five people, including the female bomber died in the blast, while seven others were injured.

Daily Sun gathered that the bomb exploded 20 minutes after President Jonathan left the campaign ground and headed for the airport.

Narrating what happened, a source stated: “A female suicide bomber detonated the bomb inside a car. She died in the blast. Four other people were killed.”

Confirming the report, the Gombe State Police command said the blast occurred after President Jonathan had left the campaign ground.

On Sunday, a bomb exploded by a suicide bomber at the Timber Market in Gombe left many people killed

About 14 days ago, a suicide bomber blew up himself up at the Arawa area of the city, killing scores of people. The blast came three days after a similar explosion beside a mosque in Tasomacha near Gombe State University.

On Sunday also, fear gripped residents of Maiduguri as heavy shooting by military troops was heard from the city suburb in the early hours of the day. Residents said they heard the sound of heavy weapons at about 5.30am, which lasted till mid-day but not many were sure of what was happening.

Malam Ismaila Mohammad, a resident, said the sound was heard at the outskirts of the city around Gubio-Monguno Road, North of Maiduguri. “I heard the first sound. I initially thought it was an explosion, but another one followed few minutes later. It continued till about 11.30am,” he told Daily Sun.

He said most people around his residence were scared following rife speculations about a planned Boko Haram attack in the city. Most residents stayed indoors until noon yesterday, saying they had to observe the situation and be sure of what was actually happening.

A security source told Daily Sun that the military was fir-ing into a Boko Haram hideout when it was discovered that insurgents might be advancing toward the city. The source said intelligence report had indicated that the insurgents were planning an onslaught on the city for the fourth time.

Attempt by the insurgents to capture the city last Sunday was repelled by the military and youth vigilantes, during which scores of Boko Haram fighters were killed. The insurgents had on December 2, 2013, attacked the 33 Artillery and an Air Force Base nearly 10 months after a daring attack on another military barracks in the city.

Meanwhile, Chadian military troops were said to be advancing to take over Gamboru/Ngala from Boko Haram. Boko Haram captured the town, situated at the Nigeria-Cameroon border in the central part of Borno, in 2014.

The Chadian soldiers work-ing under the Multi-National Joint Task Force reportedly recaptured Malla Fatori at the Nigeria-Chad border at the weekend.


Source: The Sun