Tag Archives: Bombs

At least 7 killed in Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotel

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At least seven people were killed after two car bombs exploded outside a popular Mogadishu hotel Wednesday and gunmen forced their way inside the building and opened fire, police said.

The attack, claimed by the Al-Qaeda aligned Shabaab insurgent group, began when a car loaded with explosives rammed the gate of the Dayah Hotel near the Somali parliament and state house.

Gunmen then stormed the hotel and exchanged fire with security guards, according to police official Ibrahim Mohammed.

A second massive blast went off after ambulances and journalists had rushed to the scene, leaving at least four reporters injured, including an AFP photographer who received shrapnel wounds to his shoulder and leg.

“So far we have counted about seven dead, most of them civilians and security guards. There are also many people who were wounded in the two blasts,” said Mohammed.

“Two gunmen were killed and the area is under control of security forces,” he said.

The Shabaab group claimed responsibility in a statement distributed on its Telegram messaging account.

“The mujahideen fighters have attacked a hotel and have managed to enter the hotel after detonating a car loaded with explosives,” read the statement.

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government of Somalia and regularly stages deadly attacks on government, military and civilian targets in the capital and elsewhere in the war-torn country.

Police: Don’t collect wrapped gifts from strangers this Christmas, they could be bombs

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Muazu Zubairu, the commissioner of police in Niger state, has cautioned residents of the state against receiving wrapped gifts from strangers during the yuletide.

 

Speaking with NAN on Wednesday, Zubairu said the residents needed to be cautious because of desperate attempts by the insurgents to cause havoc.

 

While stating that the gifts could turn out to be striker bombs, he said the police had taken measures to deal with whatever form of security threats.

 

“We will continue to utilise the avenues of intelligence-led policing, community, visibility policing as well as constant intelligence-led raid on criminal hideouts to arrest and prosecute the hoodlums,” Zubairu said.

 

“We are battle ready to deal with any form of security threats to enable people celebrate the festivities in a peaceful atmosphere.”

 

The police commissioner urged officers command to continue to put in their best as hard working ones will be rewarded.

 

He also urged residents to report suspicious movements as this would greatly assist in apprehending suspected criminals.

Ijaw Militants Hit As Heavy Military Bombardment Begins At Arepo Creeks, Other Parts of Lagos.

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There was pandemonium on Thursday in the Arepo area of Ogun State and some part of Lagos State after the military bombarded the base of suspected militants in the states.

 

The PUNCH learnt that scores of militants were reportedly killed in the joint military operation which lasted for more than one hour.

 

A source said the military attacked Fatola, the base of the militants, adding that houses around the area were shaken by the impact of bomb explosions on the Ijaw militants.

 

He said, “There has been a lot of commotion. The Nigerian Air Force bombarded Fatola, in Arepo, which is the base of the militants. They are shelling the place with fighter jets. Some soldiers also surrounded the area to make sure that if any of the militants should run out, they would be gunned down.”

 

A resident said people in the area had started fleeing their homes due to the bombardment.

 

Another resident in the Imushin area of Ogun State told our correspondent that two aircrafts were involved in the operation, adding that only one base of the militants was attacked.

 

He said, “An aircraft had actually been surveying the creek for the past three days. But a second one joined this evening around 6pm. All we heard was a sudden bomb blast released from the second aircraft. But it appeared that some of the militants had fled into the bush. There are four major bases of the militants in the creek and they are led by two men- OC and Agbala. If the military can get these two people, then they would have succeeded in clipping the wings of the militants.”

 

A community leader, who claimed to have spoken with one of the officers, said, “The military officer said residents should not panic because it was a military exercise. I also gathered that the casualty figure was high and that a lot of the militants had been killed.”

 

The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the operation, saying it involved the army and the navy.

 

He said, “The military only conducts its routine operation for the purpose of denying the vandals and other criminal elements from causing terror in the area. The operation, codenamed, Operation Awatse, was initiated by the defence headquarters to dominate the area with a view to flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs. The operation involved the joint forces of the navy and army and it has been successful.”

 

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the police were part of the operation.

 

She said, “The Nigerian military and policemen from the Lagos and Ogun commands are part of the operation. We are sweeping through the waterways where we share boundaries to end the activities of the militants. It is a continuous exercise and we cannot tell the number of casualties.”

 

The acting Police spokesperson, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, promised to call back our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of press time.

 

Credit: The Punch

Suicide Bombers Killed By Own Bombs In Maiduguri

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At about midnight on Sunday when Muslim faithfuls were performing the vigil prayers associated with the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, two deafening blasts echoed all over Maiduguri as two suicide bombers on a mission to attack innocent persons got killed by the explosives they wore on their bodies.

It did not occur to many that the blast was from an improvised bomb until much later on Monday when their corpses were found shredded by the bombs they coupled with their hands.

Residents close to the spot where the explosion occurred said they had earlier in the night noticed two strange persons lurking around under the dark shadows of some trees but could not sense that they had sinister motive.

“People thought they were probably going to the mosques nearby for prayers until a heavy sound came some minutes after 1 am,”, Aji Hassan told journalists who visited the neighbourhood to enquire about the blast.

Although the military has yet to issue any statement to that effect, the area has been cordoned off by uniformed personnel.

The incident has created fear in the minds of many residents of the city especially those temporarily residing in the mosque to perform the late night vigil that will continue to hold till the end of the Ramadan.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigeria Bombs Boko Haram Convoy, 15 Terrorists Killed, Many Wounded

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The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has carried out its first major air campaign under the recently launched ‘Operation Gama-Aiki’ mission, during which 15 Boko Haram insurgents were killed.

The terrorists were killed as an Alpha Jet bombed their convoy in the northern part of Borno state, officials said.

The aerial bombardment came about 72 hours after the air force commissioned despatched six war planes to tackle the deadly Boko Haram sect in the country’s volatile northeast.

NAF’s Operation Gama Aiki, a Hausa-coined nom de guerre which means ‘Finish the Job’, was launched on Friday June 19 with a mission to dislodge remnants of Boko Haram insurgents fleeing Sambisa forest.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Ayodele Famuyiwa, a group captain, said the insurgents were spotted under trees by one of its intelligence planes, King Air A350i, while on surveillance of the insurgency-ravaged mission.

They were immediately bombed, with 15 of them killed and their seven Hilux vans destroyed, Mr. Famuyiwa said.

Some wounded terrorists fled with gunshot wounds, the statement said.

“The casualty figure was confirmed by ground forces who subsequently consolidated on the gains of the air effort to pursue and inflict further casualty on the fleeing wounded members of the terrorist group,” the statement said.

“Troops also confirmed two gun trucks were among vehicles destroyed by the Alpha Jet. Two AK-47 rifles, two RPGs and cache of assorted munitions were recovered.

Boko Haram fighters had two weeks ago recaptured the communities around the border with the Niger Republic from where they had been launching attacks on civilians and security forces.

Group Captain Famuyiwa, who is the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, said the surveillance aircraft was able to send quick signals back to the Alpha Jet which came to attack the Boko Haram location and dislodged their movement towards a ground troop location.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Yola Blast Caused By Bombs In Police Store- Police Commissioner

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The Commissioner of Police in Adamawa, Mr Mohammed Gazali, said Thursday’s blast at the Jimeta Police Station was caused by bombs recovered from Boko Haram insurgents. Gazali told newsmen in Yola that the recovered bomb exploded from the store used by the Police Command to warehouse exhibits. He said that most of those affected by the blast were policemen. “Policemen were mostly affected and we don’t know the actual casualties for now as the place is not yet safe for us to go in,” Gazali said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the explosion had also affected the walls of Majalisa Primary School where some pupils were injured. The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed that the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the explosion had also affected the walls of Majalisa Primary School where some pupils were injured. The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed that the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from hospital. NAN reports that the station where the blast occurred contained offices of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the police tailoring section.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the explosion had also affected the walls of Majalisa Primary School where some pupils were injured. The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed that the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from hospital. NAN reports that the station where the blast occurred contained offices of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the police tailoring section.

Credit: NAN

Be Careful With Hampers This Christmas – Police Warn Nigerians

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Nigerians have been warned to be careful with hampers this Christmas season.The security alert was issued by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on Monday,cautioning Nigerians to be extra alert while receiving gifts during the Yuletide season so as to avoid receiving explosive-laden hampers as gifts.

In a statement signed by the Force Spokesperson, Acting, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, Arase warned against the use of fireworks such as “bangers” and other explosives as they could further heighten the fear of insecurity during the festive season.
The statement said,

“The IGP also enjoined citizens to shun all forms of violence and unlawful acts, eschew bitterness, hatred and rancour and go about their legitimate duties without fear of intimidation from any quarter during and after the season.”

Troops Kill 4 Suicide Bombers, Recover Bombs, Cash

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Troops based on a tip off, ambushed and killed 4 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on a suicide bombing mission to Gubula, Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

Apart from 2 AK-47 rifles recovered, the troops also recovered some Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs), mortar bombs and cash sum of N153,385k was retrieved.

The Nigerian Army also appeals for continued vigilance, security consciousness and above all cooperation with the military and security agencies to enable them successfully defeat the terrorists.