By Wola Mosadomi, Luka Binniyat, Gbenga Olariloye
Preparation for today’s National Assembly election got bloody yesterday after a bomb went off at the Suleja, Niger State office of INEC killing 8 people, some of whom were National Youth Service Corps members designated to conduct the election. The Federal Medical Centre in Bida also in Niger State was gutted by fire.

Suleja was the scene of a similar bomb attack recently when Governor Aliyu Muazu was campaigning in the town.

Ahmed Mohammed the bomb carrier who was affected by the explosion at Mahuta village receiving treatment at St.Gerald Hospital, Kakuri on friday. photo - Olu Ajayi.

Ahmed Mohammed the bomb carrier who was affected by the explosion at Mahuta village receiving treatment at St.Gerald Hospital,Kakuri on friday.photo by Olu Ajayi.Yesterday’s explosion came just 24 hours after another bomb killed one of its suspected handlers and maimed a second at Makuta, a suburb of Kaduna.

Besides, a medical doctor was abducted in a rare case of kidnapping at Ikenne, Ogun State.The Suleja bomb exploded at about 6:00 clock last night as activities gathered momentum at INEC office ahead of today’s election.

Election materials are usually allocated to officials on the eve of elections.

The dead corps members were part of those who had arrived in time to receive their materialallocation and possibly pass the night there to enable them set out early today to their polling booths.

Security was immediately beefed up around the office. The injured were taken to the hospital and the corpses to the mortuary.

*Police uncover massive bombing plots on Kaduna

Three hours after the Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday said it was aware of plans for massive violence to disrupt today’s polls, a bomb exploded at Mahuta, a suburb of Kaduna, killing its handler. A suspected accomplice was maimed and is now receiving treatment under police custody at St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna.

The police yesterday announced that it had found over 100 strands of dynamites loaded in three sacks in the home of the suspect.

A second massive explosion that was heard allover Kaduna last night, was later confirmed as a bomb detonated by the Police Bomb Squad, to decommission one of the seized bombs.

“The content in each bag can bring down any building in Kaduna, no matter how well built”, Kaduna state Police Commissioner, Haruna John told newsmen at St Gerard Catholic, yesterday.Haruna had addressed the press on Thursday, saying the Police were aware of plans to inflict violence during today’s elections, and warned the plotters to desist.

Explaining what happened, the Commissioner said, “at about 5.00pm yesterday (Thursday) the attention of our DPO in Kurmi Mashi was drawn to the fact that two men bearing sacks were unconscious after the sack they were carrying exploded.

“Our men rushed there and the two men, this one on hospital bed and one Lawal who is now dead, were picked up and taken to several hospitals and eventually admitted here on the understanding that the police would pay the bills.

“We sent our bomb disposal unit led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police to the scene where they discovered a second sack which they detonated immediately. They, along with the CID and the SSS, conducted a search in the area and discovered a house belonging to this man here (the injured bomber) that was securely locked.

“In that house, they discovered two more sacks that were loaded with materials for making bombs ready for detonation. Each bag was loaded with more than 30 strands of dynamites, the types used by construction workers to break rocks and I can tell you that those things can bring down any building in Kaduna, no matter how well built.

“It was only God that saved this city from the hands of these people because if these things were used where ever they are intended for, it would have been terrible. These bombs are not things that even those of us in the service know much about. But thank God that we have one of the best bomb experts in the world. Our bomb disposal unit is one of the best trained in the world and it takes a lot of courage to work in that unit.

“Those bags were detonated by our bomb disposal units and the blast was heard over two kilometres away. The survivor here claimed that some Nigerians and foreigners are involved in this. We are not dismissing that claim and so, we will treat him so that when he gets well, we can get more information from him.

How the bomb exploded – Suspect

The suspect who gave his name as Mohammed in a chat with newsmen said: “The bomb that was brought to my friend exploded on me. I don’t know what my friend intended to do with the Bomb.

“I work at a Yoghurt factory in Kaduna. I met Lawal at Gadon Kaya in Kano. He just called me when he came in from Kano and asked me to meet him at the site where the accident happened.

“I don’t know what he wanted to use it for. What happened was that when we met at Mahuta, he received a call and suddenly two people appeared in a black Mercedes 190 model. One of the occupants who is an Arab and the other a Nigerian gave him the parcel which he confirmed to me to be a bomb. The bomb accidentally exploded just as I was about asking him what he intended to do with it”.

The Police also paraded the owner of the house where the bomb went off.

He gave his name as Abdullahi and that he was asked by one of his friends to give the house to Mohammed who wanted to be coming there to read the Qua’ran and he agreed.

No Reps election in Ife today – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced yesterday the postponement of the House of Representatives election in Ife, Osun State. The election has been rescheduled for April 26, 2011.

The Public Affairs Officer of INEC in the state, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, said in a statement in Osogbo that the postponement was caused by the omission of Accord Party logo on the ballot papers for the election.

Areas affected by the postponement are Ife Central, Ife East, Ife South and Ife North Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr. Akinbiyi said: “the commission took the step in all honesty to avoid post election litigations which may affect the entire electoral process for the House of Reps.”

However, he said the senatorial election in Osun East senatorial district which comprises of Ife and Ijesha zones of the state will go on as scheduled.

Doctor abducted in IkenneA dangerous dimension was added to the political crisis in Ogun State as a medical doctor in Ikenne, hometown of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was on Thursday night kidnapped by some unknown people.

Dr. Bode Oyetayo, the Medical Director of Bodman’s Hospital was said to have been abducted within the premises of his hospital located on Bodmann’s Avenue, off Enigbokan Street at about. 8.30p.m.

One of the kidnappers was said to have pretended as a patient before he and his colleagues swooped on their victim.

A member of the gang who was given his medical bill of N1, 500 after the medical treatment by the nurses rejected the bill on the ground that it was too much and when an argument ensured between him and the health officials, he was said to have requested to see the doctor in charge.

On getting to the doctor, the kidnapper was said to have brought out a gun and shot into the air and within few seconds, his accomplice who was lurking around joined him in whisking the doctor away.

The Ogun State Police Command, spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi when contacted confirmed the incident.