Sokoto — Three gunmen yesterday launched attack on the Zaria residence of Vice President Namadi Sambo located at Baba Ahmed Road in Tudun Wada, killing a shoe shiner and injuring two policemen on guard.
Witness said that the gunmen who are within the age range of 20 and 28, stormed the area at about 11:30am on a motorcycle and opened fire on the policemen on duty, but their bullets fell the shoe shiner who was said to be polishing their shoes just outside the gate.
Acting public relations officer of the Kaduna State command DSP Abubakar Balteh confirmed the incident, saying the policemen repelled the attack forcing the gunmen to flee.
"There were about three of our men on duty when the attackers came. They exchanged fire with our men and our men were able to repel the attack and force the gunmen out of the area. It is true that one cobbler was killed and one of our men was shot but he is now receiving treatment at the hospital. The cobbler was killed after being hit by a stray bullet," DSP Balteh said.
The house which was torched during the post presidential election violence in 2011 was under renovation and armed policemen were said to have been drafted to secure the place. Daily Trust learnt there are no occupants in the building but residents of the area said the deployment of security to watch over the renovation might not be unconnected with the attempt to scare any person or group that may want to disrupt the work.
A resident who witnessed the attacks on the security operatives at the house of the Vice President in Zaria yesterday said: "Three of them (attackers) came on an old motorcycle and on arrival, they opened fire on the police men around. The shooting that ensued led to the killing of a cobbler and one of the policemen was shot on the shoulder. The other policemen took cover in the house where they were heard firing back. I think they were taken unawares.
"The gunmen came when the policemen were waiting for the cobbler to mend their shoes. I think the police couldn't pursue because the guns which the attackers used sounded more sophisticated than the AK 47 the police had. The three attackers are all young men within the age bracket of between 20 and 28," the resident who craved for anonymity said.
Shortly after the attack, the corpse of the cobbler and the wounded cop were evacuated to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria after which armed soldiers and mobile police cordoned off the area.
As at yesterday afternoon, calm had returned to the Tudun Wada area as armed security personnel allowed people to go about their normal businesses on the street.
Shortly before the attack on the house of the Vice President, at precisely 10:45am, two suicide bombers launched coordinated attacks on the zonal office of the Nigeria Police at Marna area of Sokoto, Sokoto State, and the office of the Police Officers' Wives Association, POWA, at Angwar Rogo respectively. Both bombers died in the attacks.
Witnesses said the suicide bomber who attacked the Sokoto zonal police headquarter arrived in a jeep at about 10.45am and went for his target. The explosion ripped through the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone Alhaji Mukhtari Ibrahim and his official car. The office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and some nearby shops were also affected.
AIG Ibrahim confirmed that the bomber and a police corporal, Ismail, were killed and that eight other police officers sustained injuries.
"We had an unfortunate incident where a suicide bomber rammed into the headquarters with car and killed himself. A police corporal, by name Ismail was also killed and eight other officers were injured."
In the Angwar Rogo Attack, a bomber described by witnesses as a teenager was said to have arrived in a Voxwagon Gulf car and drove though as though he was a learner before launching the attack. He was the only casually in the attack.
The Deputy Police Commissioner, Kudu Nma, confirmed that the office of the POWA office was attacked and that the bomber died. No policeman was reported injured in this attack but Daily Trust learnt that several civilians around the area sustained various degrees of injury.
No group had claimed responsibility for the multiple attacks in Zaria and Kano as at press time yesterday.
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The incidence of gunmen, suicide bombings, kidnapping, Terrorism and other related criminal activities are novelties in Nigeria. The recruits of this Gangsterism are our neglected young folks. The evil forces had hijacked these young men to perpetrate their criminalities. Some Nigerians are keeping private armies to vent their grievances against their perceived enemies. One can not fathom how these young men involved in these heinous crimes got the resources for their destructive activities. Some wealthy persons must be their Pillars of support in the country. These Nouveau Rich who acquired their riches through illicit means, are now waging internecine wars through their private armies. The stolen and pillaged of our Commonwealth is now being used to threaten our existence. Those younmen in their Terror Camps were supposed to have been trained in civilised environment. It is this stolen resources that are diverted into destructive uses. The reported attacks in Sokoto, Zaria's V.P's home, Kano e.t.c. It is now clear that, "the hands are that of Essau, but the voice is Jacob's. Nigerian Politicians are behind the Terror problems here. To those of them who have benefited immensely in the Nigeria Project, to now resort to destroying and destabilising it, under whatever circumstance is to say the least, uncharitable and unpatriotic. These Mandarin Billionaires should please, direct their wealth to the promotion of civilised Causes, like education, health, poverty erradication, and other good things of life. Then, they are assured of Paradise (Al-Janat). To turn a new leave,and save our innocent souls from unnecessary anxiety and destruction is NOW. LONG LIVE NIGERIA. By Isunola Asi Anishere.
The heavy and sophisticated weaponry deployed by the Boko Haram in their recent terror campaigns belies the claim by people like Chief Joseph Waku.According to him there are,criminal and enonomic Boko Harams. Out there are people like Alhaji Adamu Ciroma and his cliques who promised to make our country ungovernable for our President.The President once announced to the nation that there are sponsors of Boko Haram within his cabinet.His erstwhile NSA,Gen.Andy Azazi accused members of PDP of sponsoring the Boko Haram. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume in his defence for offering logistics and directing the operations of the Boko Haram claimed to have acted at the behest of our Vice President. That the Boko Haram attacked the Vice President's residence has a ring of a cock and bull story in it. It all stinks to high heaven.That is just a poor side show to decieve Nigerians. The Boko Haram are supposed to be made up Almajiris. Where on earth do those hungry and illiterate lots get their rockets and launchers?Who armed them with those Kalashnikovs et all? How did the new NSA,Mallaam Sambo Dazuki come to get hold of the phone numbers of the terrorist ring leaders?The situation has got so murky and there are many many questions to be answered. The Hausa/Fulani with the demise of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua lost their firm grip on their supposedly conquered fiefdom,Nigeria.They are hereby using every hook and crook to regain their lost firm grip on their Estate,Nigeria.Until the Leaders of the South stand up together and challenge their Northern counterparts,the Boko Haram terrorism will certainly persist. The South must jointly insist on Sovereign National Conference in order to renegotiated the terms of our corprate existence with those barbaric cattle rearers of the North.