The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suicide

  • Suicide bombers kill 24 in Borno

    Suicide bombers kill 24 in Borno

    It was bloody yesterday when a suicide bomber entered a mosque during the subh  (early morning prayer) and detonated her bomb, killing all the people at prayer, except the Imam, who was seriously injured.

    The scene of horror was Umarari village near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    Another bomb was detonated outside the mosque. At the end of it all, 24 people, including the suicide bombers, died.

    They were girls but the one who entered the Mosque dressed like a man to gain access at about4.45am.

    The second bomb was detonated near the Imam’s house. The bomber was said to have carefully waited for sympathisers to gather into their midst and blew off herself.

    Only the Iman survived the first blast. All worshippers there at the time died instantly, a vigilante member who gave his name as Hassan Ado, said.

    The Imam is receiving treatment at the Borno State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

     Molai-Umarari, where the killings took place is 10 kilometres from Maiduguri.

    An official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 22 bodies were evacuated from the blast scene and taken to the morgue.

    “We have concluded evacuation and rescue. We have retrieved 24 bodies including those of the bombers from the village mosque near Maiduguri,” he said.

    The mosque was closed after an attack last October. It was only reopened three days ago, residents said.

    Umar Usman said he escaped because he was late to worship. “We were just a few meters away from the mosque when a loud bang erupted and all we could see was dark smoke and bodies littered around,” he told The Associated Press.

    The last bomb attack in the area took place in January when six people were killed.

    In a statement yesterday the military confirmed that 22 people were killed.

    Spokesman of the Army, Col. Sani Usman, said: “22 people were killed and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries.”

    He said the suicide bombers attacked the village mosque, where about two dozens of worshipers were killed, with 18 people sustaining various degree of injuries.

    The statement added: “These twin mosque explosions occurred at Ummarari village near Molai, a settlement at the outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno’s capital.

    “Troops, security agents and care givers have been mobilised to the affected village, while the injured worshippers have been evacuated to Molai General Hospital for treatment.”

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was at the village to condole with the villagers. He commended them for not fleeing the village despite the attacks, describing their action as a show of gallantry.

    He assured the villagers that the mosque will be secured, by building a perimeter fence with a locking system to prevent any future attacks from terrorists.

    The governor also directed the Commissioner of Water Resources, Dr. Zainab Gimba, to commence the drilling of a borehole in the village for the provision of portable water in the community.

    He also donated N500, 000 cash to the affected villagers.

     The village head, Modu Ba Mallum, told the governor that yesterday’s mosque attack was as a result of the replacement of military commander last week and lack of patrol vehicles to the 70 vigilante youths assigned to patrol the village for 24 hours.

  • Breaking news: Bomb blast in Borno Mosque

    Two female suicide bombers early Wednesday morning attacked a Mosque at Umari Village on the outskirts of Miduguri, Borno State capital.

    The bombers reportedly disguised to gain access among the male worshippers to avoid any suspicion.

    Twenty two persons have been reported dead at the spot of the blast according to a source in the area,

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Isuku confirmed the incident.

    ” I don’t have details of the casualty but I am driving to the scene now,” Isiaku said.

    A rescue official also put the casualty figure at 22 with about 30 injured.

     

  • Man commits suicide in Ondo

    Man commits suicide in Ondo

    A 42-year-old man identified as Ayo Boye was Thursday found hanged on a tree behind a block industry at Adofure area of Akure, Ondo State capital.

    According to the owner of the block industry, who identified himself as Olanrewaju, his workers called him on phone to inform him about the incident, stressing that on getting to his office, he also saw the lifeless body of a man hanged on a tree

    Olanrewaju said, ” When I saw this I and I cannot identify the man I called my police friend who advised me to quickly report the incident at a police station”

    It was gathered that the deceased came from Abuja to Akure to attend a church service at a popular prayer center located in the area and a few meters away from where he took his life .

    The founder of the prayer centre, Pastor Samson Oluwamodede, claimed ignorant of the incident as he said, ” there are many people that worship in my church, and there is no way I can recognize everybody ”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the State Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed incident said the wife and relatives of the deceased had been contacted and his remains had been deposited at the State Specialists’ Hospital, Akure for autopsy.

    He said “We found a Nokia handset and a sum of N2, 500 on him, we found a copy of bible on him but we are not certain that he came to worship at the prayer center.

    Joseph said the reason the deceased took his life was still unknown to the command but the command had commenced investigation on the matter.

  • 10 killed in Adamawa suicide bombing

    No fewer than 10 people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy market in Gombi, Adamawa State, residents and a Red Cross official said.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has been using suicide bombers since the army, helped by neighbours Chad and Cameroon, expelled the group from territory it had captured previously.

    A male suicide bomber attacked the market, killing eight people and wounding 28, said a local Red Cross official.

    Two traders at the market put the death toll at 10 while a police spokesman said four had been killed and 17 wounded.

    Gombe lies near the border with Borno State, where the insurgency started.

    Two suicide bombers had on Wednesday caused 18 deaths in Chibok, Borno State.

    The military authorities confirmed yesterday that the Chibok bombers were men wearing hijabs with explosives strapped to their backs to look like babies.

    Such attacks are blamed on Boko Haram Islamic extremists who have turned to suicide bombing of soft targets since troops last year forced them out of towns and villages.

    On Monday, four suicide bombers attacked a market and town in northern Cameroon, killing at least 35 people and wounding 65, according to officials who said the bombers came from Nigeria.

    On Thursday, two female suicide bombers targeted a school in northern Cameroon. Officials said they killed only themselves and wounded some students.

    Chibok community leader, Pogu Bitrus, said the toll was higher than originally given: 17 civilians, one soldier and three suicide bombers.

    Bitrus said six bombers entered the town. Military spokesman, Col. Mustapha Ank, confirmed two were disguised as women.

    Chibok and Boko Haram came to the world’s attention after the Islamic extremists’ mass abduction of schoolgirls in April 2014.

  • Preacher stoic in son’s suicide

    Preacher stoic in son’s suicide

    There were two surprises at the Federal Low Cost Quarters in Gombe metropolis. One, the son of a preacher took his life. Two, the preacher appeared cheerful and glorified God after learning of the tragedy.

    The bereaved Reverend Ali Sule, pastor of the Federal Low Cost branch of Assemblies of God Church, said his son woke up that morning looking hale and hearty, full of promises and never looking worried or bothered about anything.

    He said he came back from the bank that afternoon and was studying the church Sunday School Manual and Holy Bible in preparation for the Sunday School Preparatory Class that was to come up later in the day by 5:00pm when he was hit with the hard news of his son’s sudden death.

    “On that Friday morning, one of our neighbour’s house was gutted by fire. So I went there to pray and encourage them. From there I went to Sterling Bank for verification thing. On my return, I stayed outside briefly and came in to study my Quarterly and Bible because we had a Sunday school preparatory class by 5:00pm.

    “Just then the owner of the opposite house came to inspect his project. He usually takes one month plus before coming. But that day, God brought him. He opened the gate and he saw the boy hanging from a mango tree. So he rushed to my house shouting, Dr. Dr. Dr., come and see somebody in my house! I went there and discovered it was my son.

    The preacher said the family prayed together that morning and the late Peter never told them of any problem and there had been no quarrelling in the house.

    He said they were still bewildered after the incident when a neighbour, a retired superintendent of police advised that they should search his pockets and clothes to see if he left a note.

    “We searched and saw a note in his clothes. In the note he said, ‘Daddy, please have a place in your heart to forgive me, Mummy, please have a place in your heart to forgive me. I have committed a sin. Please warn my brothers and sisters not to commit sin because sin leads to death’.

    “But he didn’t mention what kind of sin it was that he could not tell us about so we could counsel him.”

    He said Peter who is the first of his five children – three boys and a girl – never exhibited any stubborn traits or strange sign of unruly behaviour.

    “But he is weak and unserious in church activities,” the cleric said.

    Reverend Sule who hails from Gelengu town in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, said he had been pastoring for 26 years but never had he buried any of his members, not even a baby.  And now that it was going to happen, it was in his house.

    But he said the incident is a thing of great joy because he believes it probably would have scattered his flock or impacted negatively amongst them if it happened to one of the church members.

    The reason: “We were in the church for prayers on Wednesday. During that prayer, there was a prophesy that we should pray against premature death. But we didn’t know where the thing was coming from. So we prayed that God should have mercy on us,” he said.

    He said a lot of sympathisers have either been expecting or taken aback that him and his wife were not weeping or at least looking gloomy

    But he said: “Why should I when God has been very faithful to me. Even with this incident, I don’t have any regret because devil has no power to pull me down. My wife is strongly backing me that devil will pull us down because my Bible tells me that in everything, we should glorify Him.

    “So, I am glorifying God because there is no reason for me to say the all-knowing God has wronged me. I did not come to this world with a child and will not go back with any. It is the one He gives that He takes because God has power to rescue him.

    “By the grace of God, he was my first son. Since I gave birth to him, he has been a cheerful boy and we’ve not had any problem with him. I bought a Honda Hennessey car last week; it was like the car belonged to him because I don’t know how to drive.

    “This is why I was telling people at the graveyard that we should be watchful about our children, that no matter how we think we know them, there might still be something very important we need to know about them.”

     

  • Suspect killed as soldiers foil suicide attempt at barracks

    Soldiers yesterday shot dead a suspected suicide bomber outside a military base in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, detonating explosives concealed in her handbag, a civilian vigilante and a military source told French News Agency, the AFP.

    Her target was thought to be the Maimalari army barracks — the main military base in Maiduguri, which has been hit repeatedly by Boko Haram Islamists.

    “Soldiers at Maimalari army barracks this morning (yesterday) foiled a suicide attack by a female bomber,” said Babakura Kolo, from the civilian volunteer force assisting troops against the rebels.

    The woman approached the barracks around 7am and headed towards the gates, he said. Military guards at the gates shouted at her to stop for security checks but she ignored them and continued walking towards the gates, he added.

    “She continued walking with her handbag slung on her shoulder, despite repeated shouts from the soldiers asking herto  stop.

    “One of the soldiers opened fire on the woman and the handbag exploded, blowing the woman to pieces.”

    There were no other casualties in the explosion, which a military officer described as an “attempted suicide attack by Boko Haram terrorists”.

    Boko Haram has intensified its use of multiple suicide bombers to inflict maximum casualties, with secondary explosions detonated as people rush to help victims of the initial blast.

    Thirty-four people were killed in a wave of attacks on Thursday night and Friday morning on the outskirts of Maiduguri, 117 died last month in explosions in the Ajilari Cross area of the Borno state capital.

    Of the six suicide attacks in Nigeria this month, four have been in Maiduguri, killing at least 48 and injuring 99.

    The military source, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to talk to the media, said the use of human bombs was a sign of the group’s desperation and frustration at the fight-back by troops.

    “They are looking for every opportunity to hit back, which is why they have resorted to soft-target attacks on mosques and markets and such attacks on a military base is intended to show the terrorists are still strong,” the officer added.

  • Breaking News: 16 killed in Yobe suicide bombing

    Multiple suicide attacks were reported early Wednesday morning in Damaturu, Yobe State.

    The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said at least 16 persons have been confirmed dead and several others injured.

    The first attack was carried out by three teenage boys at a mosque inside Buhari Estate in the city.

    An eyewitness said the suicide bomber came near the mosque, hugged one of the boys in the area and blew up himself and others around.

    Details later…

  • 30 traders killed in suicide attack

    •55 injured

    Thirty traders were on Sunday evening killed in a suicide attack at a market in Monguno, Borno State, a hospital source and operatives of the civilian JTF have said.

    Monguno is about 130 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital.

    The sources said 55 persons were injured.

    The suicide bombers were said to have detonated their explosives at the market when traders were preparing to go home.

    A nurse at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), who preferred anonymity, said on the phone: “They brought 30 bodies from Monguno in military ambulances and two other vehicles to our hospital in the evening yesterday. About 60 persons were injured.”

    A leader of the civilian JTF, Musa Kukalumi, told reporters in Maiduguri that about 28 people were killed and several were injured in the attack.

    A source at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri said victims of the bomb blast were brought to the hospital, but were asked to go to the UMTH or Umoru Shehu Hospital for lack of space.

    Police spokesman Victor Isuku told our correspondent on the phone that he had not heard about the attack.

     

     

     

  • Graduate commits suicide in Aba

    A man, said to be in his late twenties and a graduate of the Abia State Polytechnic, has allegedly committed suicide at Umuobe.

    Reports said the unidentified man, who hung himself at home after Sunday service, would have been shortlisted for the next set of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC).

    Though his relatives were yet to be reached, a source said: “He returned from church on Sunday and nobody suspected what would happen later. It was around 5pm that the news broke.

    “We learnt his parents are dead and I think he is the family’s breadwinner. It is very unfortunate. We learnt that he will be among the people that will be going for NYSC soon, having finished from ABia Polytechnic.

    “We are yet to understand why he committed the act. He has a handwork which was fetching him money, so I don’t think it was hunger or frustration that prompted him.

    “According to residents, the incident is a sacrilege and there are rituals to be performed before his body can be buried. The villagers, after performing the rituals on Monday, brought out the corpse.”

    Police Commissioner Joshiak Habila, who confirmed the incident, said it was yet to be officially reported.

     

     

  • Man commits suicide in Aba

    Man commits suicide in Aba

    A young man in his late twenty living at Umuobe village, Ovom 1 and a graduate of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in his family house.

    According to the reports, the man whose name was yet to be ascertained allegedly killed himself on Sunday after attending a church service in one of the Catholic Church in the area.

    The young man who was said to be an orphan, The Nation was told, would be among the next set of graduates that would be shortlisted for the compulsory one National Youth Service Scheme.

    Until his death, many who knew him said that he was doing tiling job and was feeding well as he has customers and was making a lot of income from the business.

    They however said that they were yet to point out the reason why he should end his life through such a deadly mission on that fateful Sunday.

    Though the family members were yet to be reached, a source in the area who confirmed the incident said; “he returned from church on Sunday after attending one of the church services and nobody suspected that such a thing was going to happen. It was around 5pm that the bad news broke.

    “The mother and the dad we learnt are all dead. I think he is the breadwinner of the family. It is very unfortunate. We learnt that he will be among the people that will be going for NYSC soon because he schooled in Abia poly. We are yet to understand how the incident happened. The boy has a handwork which was fetching him money, so I don’t think that it was hunger or out of frustration that led him into such action. I learnt his girl friend and a few other persons were around, though I learnt that the girl friend was said to be in the kitchen when the incident happened.

    “According to the people of the area, the incident is a sacrilege and that they have to perform some rituals before his body could be touched and buried. So, it was on Monday that they (villagers) after performing the rituals took away his corpse from the room where it was lying,” the source stated.

    The source said that fiancé to the deceased was later invited to the Azuka Police station in whose jurisdiction the incident happened.

    But when contacted, the Abia State Police Commissioner, CP Joshiak Habila who confirmed the incident said that the matter was yet to be officially reported to the police.