New Year tragedy: Again, explosions rock Gombe, kill 3

• Suicide bomber’s attack foiled at Church service

Tension is mounting in Gombe, capital of Gombe State, following three separate suicide bomb attacks that resulted in the death of three persons, including two of the terrorists.
The development has forced many residents of the town to remain indoors while many businesses remain closed for fear of the unknown.
One of such places is the popular Gombe nternational grains market, which has been closed for more than three days.
The first attack, which occurred at the 301 Artillery Regiment Mammy Market around 8:00 pm on Wednesday claimed the life of the bomber and a soldier, who tried to prevent him from gaining access to the market.
The other bomb, which exploded few minutes after, did not affect anybody as eyewitnesses said the bomber kept the explosives at a secluded area after realising that the first attacker could not have his way with the soldiers at the entrance.
The attacks at the mammy market was immediately followed by several gunshots, which lasted for some minutes, a development that kept residents under tension till the early hours of New Year’s day.
Another overnight attack targeted three churches; the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA III), ECWA Gospel and Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) all in the same vicinity in Tudun Wada area of Gombe.
The attack killed the suicide bomber and injured eight members of the Boys Brigade, who prevented him from gaining entrance into the premises of the churches.
One of the affected persons told our reporter that as soon as the bomber came on a motorbike and greeted the Boys Brigade officers in Arabic language they immediately retreated from him, sensing danger.
He said on getting down from his motorbike and turning off his ignition, the bomb went off immediately killing the bomber instantly and injuring the eight Boys Brigade personnel.
An eyewitness, Malam Aminu Muhammad, whose house is close to the blast scene, said he was indoors when he heard a loud sound.
“When I heard the sound, I immediately came out, and what I saw was horrible.
“I just saw human parts scattered everywhere with blood and pieces of motorcycle which the suicide bomber rode on,” Muhammad said.
When our correspondent visited the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, where the injured were receiving treatment, a Captain of the Boys Brigade, Mailaya Jerusa, said that the bomber tried to gain access to the church on his bike, but was refused entry because the road was closed.
He said that after the explosion the injured persons were rushed to the hospital, adding that three had been discharged.
He encouraged Christians to be more faithful and fervent in prayers because these were signs of the end times.
Malam Abdullahi Isah, the Secretary of the Specialist Hospital, however said that 10 injured persons were brought to the hospital.
According to him, the victims sustained various injuries and were undergoing a treatment, adding that one of them was taken to the theatre.
The state Police Command confirmed the bomb explosion.
The Spokesman of the Command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said that a suicide bomber rode on a motorcycle and tried to enter the church a few minutes after 8 a.m.
“He came with a motorcycle and tried to enter the place but as a result of the security measures put in place, he was blocked and the bomb exploded and he was killed,” Atajiri said.
He called on the public to remain vigilant and also report any suspicious movement around them.