Gombe Blasts: Death Toll Hits 30 …As Normalcy Returns To Park

L-R: President, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Alumni in Nigeria, Mr Isa Hussein, Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-duk and Country Director, Jung Sang-Hoon, with some Nigerians awarded scholarships to study in leading Korean Universities, at their Pre-departure Orientation in Abuja, onWednesday

Twin bomb explosions at two motor parks in Gombe metropolis on Wednesday night, have claimed no fewer than 30 lives, while 105 other persons sustained injuries, the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCR) in Gombe State, has confirmed.
Secretary of NRCS in the state, Malam Abubakar Yakubu told newsmen on Wednesday that the remains of the dead victims had been deposited at the mortuary of Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe.
He said that those injured were also receiving medical attention at the hospital and Specialists’ Hospital, Gombe.
The Gombe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the incident, but said details on casualties were not available yet.
He said the first blast occurred at Dadinkowa motor part around 7.30 pm, followed by the second explosion at Dukku park some hours later.
Atajiri said the area of the incident had been cordoned off and movement in the metropolis, restricted throughout the remaining part of the night
An eye witness, Malam Idris Musa, told newmen that the explosion at the Dadinkowa Park occurred very close to a mosque when people were coming out of the mosque after performing their prayers.
The Tide source gathered that in both cases, the Improvised Explosive Devices, were planted.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned in Dadin/kowa and Dukku Motor Parks in Gombe after the Wednesday’s twin bomb blast, Police spokesman, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, has said.
Atajiri told newsmen in Gombe yesterday that people now go about their normal activities.
He said that the place was condoned on Wednesday by the security personnel to protect people’s property from being looted by hoodlums.
“You know when things like this happen, is not everybody that goes there to sympathise, some go there with a different mission,’’ he said.
Atajiri advised members of the public to be vigilant, report any suspicious movement, and any unusual item such as parcel or food flask to security agencies.
He said that the casualty figure from the hospital on Wednesday was 30 dead and 105 injured.
“But when we went to the hospital today, they checked their records and they gave us 29 dead, 99 injured.
The Tide source reports that there was an explosion at Dadin/kowa and Dukku Motor Parks on Wednesday night.
Our correspondent also reported that the first explosion was at Dadin/kowa Park, which occurred about 7:30 p.m., and one hour after the Dukku park explosion, which claimed lives and left many injured.
In another development, the Yobe police command has recovered four bombs, two improvised explosive device, six mortar bombs, machine gun and two Ak47 rifles from insurgents.
Mr Markus Danladi, the state Police Commissioner, made the announcement on Wednesday in Damaturu while displaying the arms.
He said the bombs and the explosive device were discovered in the trunk of a Toyota Highlander Jeep whose occupants died on Monday in an explosion from a device strapped on their bodies.
He said that five suicide bombers were stopped for search on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway on Monday by a police patrol team.
“But they detonated the explosives killing themselves and three policemen while two other policemen sustained injuries.
“On July 21, a team of police investigators searching the wreckage of the jeep discovered six unexploded bombs neatly concealed in the trunk of the vehicle comprising of four 81mm caliber and two improvised.
“Similarly, six mortar bombs were discovered in the handbag of a female member of the suicide bombers,’’ he said.
The commissioner, who said the bombs, had a range of 1,000 meters radius, urged security operatives on the highway to be vigilant.
He said the police also recovered one general purpose machine gun, two AK47 rifles and hundreds of ammunition from insurgents who were repelled in an attempted attack on Bara town.
Danladi called on motorists and the public to cooperate with security agencies to ensure security of lives and property.