After four bombing incidents that have claimed at least 20 lives and injured scores in Taraba and Yobe States, the Department of State Services (DSS) has drawn public attention to plans by criminal elements to return the country to the pre-2015 era reminiscent of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) attacks on soft and hard targets in parts of the country.
Recall that the Islamic State for the West African Province (ISWAP) had in a post claimed responsibility for the attack in Taraba that killed 12 and injured 19 injured after an explosion at a crowded market in last week.
Usman Abdullahi, police spokesman for Taraba, said the blast in the rural Iware community occurred at a drinking spot in a section of a busy market.
“It is suspected to have been caused by improvised explosive device that detonated. Investigations are ongoing,” Abdullahi said.
There was another bomb blast in Jalingo, but no life was lost.
In Geidam, Yobe State, a day after, 12 persons died after a bomb went off in a bar.
In Gashua, Bade Local Government Area of the same State, one life was reportedly lost and seven others injured in another explosion.
Gashua is the hometown of the Senate President of Nigeria, Ahmed Lawan.
The explosion occurred at a bar in the Abacha area of the town at night.
But the Army said this explosion was caused by a cooking gas cylinder.
The spokesman of Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army, Kennedy Anyanwu, said, “our men on the ground have told us that the preliminary investigation shows it’s a cooking gas that caused the explosion.
“Due to the current heat being experienced in the state, the possibility of a gas explosion is high especially if it’s not well attended to. It’s not a Boko Haram attack”, the army officer said.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the Department of State Services said: “Though there are already reported cases of such incidents in some areas, the Service has uncovered a ploy by suspected criminal gangs to forge an alliance among themselves with a view to launching further attacks on critical infrastructure and other frequented public places like worship and relaxation centres, especially during and after the holidays and festive celebrations. The objective is to achieve some self- serving interests as well as cause fear among the citizenry. The Service, however, recalls its earlier warning that some groups and individuals were plotting to stoke violence in the country.
“Following these, patrons, owners and managers of aforementioned public places are advised to be wary of this development and implement basic security measures to deter the threats. While the Service is committed to the disruption of this trend and pattern of violent attacks, it will continue to partner with other security agencies to ensure that necessary drills are emplaced in order that public peace and order are not jeopardized.
“To this end, residents are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and share, with security and law enforcement agencies, useful information on the activities of criminals.
“Meanwhile, the DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, fwc wishes all and sundry a hitch free Workers’ Day and Sallah celebrations.”
