Explosions rock Maiduguri as Jonathan plans visits

BY Ndahi Marama & Wole Mosedomi
MAIDUGURI — Six persons were, yesterday, feared dead as four major explosions rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

This came as nine governors in the All Progressive Congress, APC, gathered in the troubled city to push the merger plans of the country’s leading opposition political parties.

Several others were injured in the explosions and are receiving treatment.

The governors in a communiqué vowed that they would rescue Nigeria from what they described as a visionless leadership.


File Photos
The explosions occurred simultaneously on Baga road, Customs and Gamboru areas at about 3p.m, while a fourth exploded at London Ciki at about 6p.m.

A top security source regretted the incident, claiming that the state administration may have triggered the incident through the invitation of the APC governors to the state as he said intelligence reports had advised against the meeting.

Six feared dead

An unconfirmed report from a hospital source said six dead bodies including security operatives and civilians were brought to the mortuary of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, while those who sustained injuries were admitted for treatment.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yuguda Abdullahi, however, claimed knowledge of only one blast, saying he personally visited that site. He declined comment on the number of casualties.

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa could not be reached for comments.

The governors were, nevertheless, undeterred in pledging their solidarity with the people of BornoState and together donated N200 million to Borno and YobeStates, the two opposition party held states that are at the centre of the Boko Haram insurgency.

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