Another bomb blasts kill 3 in Maiduguri

BY NDAHI  MARAMA
Maiduguri — Bomb blasts have killed at least three people in Maiduguri, while at least 15 were wounded, the police said today. The police said they suspected the Islamist sect known as Boko Haram was behind the attacks on Easter Sunday night at a hotel tavern and transport hub in Maiduguri, as well as a third one yesterday morning.

“From our records, the death toll has risen to three, which include a police corporal and two civilians who were at the tavern to have some drinks,” police commissioner, Mike Zuokumor said, adding that in the hotel attack, 14 people, including two children playing outside its tavern, were wounded, and then there was an officer injured in the attack.

“We also had another bomb blast this morning targeting a police team. Two attackers on a motorbike threw a locally made bomb at the patrol van, seriously injuring a policeman on duty,” said Zuokumor.

The explosions at the hotel and transport hub Sunday night occurred nearly simultaneously, with the two locations not far apart. Two blasts hit the hotel and one hit the station for buses and communal taxis.

According to the police boss, “we have placed our men on the alert for the governorship tomorrow (today). We will not be daunted by terrorists,” said Zuokumor.

Boko Haram had distributed fliers earlier on Sunday, warning of further attacks, saying: “We are fighters waging jihad in Nigeria.
“We will never accept any system of governance apart from the one described by Islam because that is the only way Muslims can be liberated,” the fliers said. “We do not respect the Nigerian government because it is illegal. We will continue to fight its military and police because they are not protecting Islam.”

At least four other explosions have hit Maiduguri in recent weeks, including one the night before the presidential election and on the day of the election. Two explosions also hit Maiduguri on the day of the April 9 National Assembly polls.