The Military Task Force on “Operation Restore Order” said on Monday that it had arrested six suspects in connection with Sunday’s bomb explosion at the Wulari Mammy Market in Maiduguri.

Maj.-Gen. Jack Nwogbo, the Commander, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.

“We went into action immediately after the incident and ransacked some flash points.

“We arrested about six suspects, and we have already begun screening them to determine whether they have cases to answer or not,” Nwogbo said.

He said eight people died at the blast which occurred in the evening.

“I counted eight dead bodies at the scene; about 15 other persons were also injured by the blast and have been rushed to the hospital for help,” he said.

Our correspondent learnt that another explosion took place around Tashar Kano (motor park) in Maiduguri, about the same time but without any casualty as the military patrol team targeted was not there at the time of the blast.

In a related development, the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested no fewer than 100 commanders of cells and members of dissident groups in Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe and Adamawa states, an official said.

Ms Marilyn Ogar, the Assistant Director, Public Affairs of SSS, made the statement at a news conference in Abuja yesterday and added that the suspects were undergoing the process of de-radicalisation in addition to assisting the service in investigations.

“For strategic operational reasons, details of those arrested will remain classified as they are still undergoing the process of de-radicalisation, perception management and to win their confidence back to the society,’’ she said.

Ogar said that between May 23 and June 27, the service discovered and demobilised 12 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in various parts of Kaduna State.

“On 23rd May, 2011, security operatives discovered and successfully demobilised eight (8) Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in small and medium size tins beneath a staircase in Kafanchan, Jema’a LGA, Kaduna state.

“Also on 27th June 2011, information received from patriotic members of the public assisted in the recovery of some components of yet to be assembled explosives,’’ she said.

The components, according to her, are a camping gas cylinder with a pin, detonating cables, a bottle of distilled water, pliers, masking tape and clips.

Ogar said the components were found in a hotel in Kaduna and explained that they were to be used to bomb a shopping mall in the state.

She apologised to the residents of the FCT and its adjourning communities to bear with the inconveniences being experienced from the security operatives as it was for “our collective safety.

“We must all continue to remain conscious of the fact that security is everybody’s business and the effect of such routine security procedures should be considered as part of the little sacrifices we all have to pay.’’.

She urged Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies by giving useful information and also join hands to build a peaceful and secure “Nigeria of our dream’’.