By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
The Kaduna state government has advised residents to be vigilant as terrorists have planted explosive devices in various parts of the state.
The government gave the advice Monday in a statement from the the state commissioner of Internal Security and National Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
He said security agencies feared terrorists might be planning to “discreetly plant explosives in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels, bars, entertainment centers, restaurants, parks, major highways and places of worship.”
The statement says:
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to issue a crucial warning to citizens across the state to be more alert to the threat of explosive devices placed in public places by terrorists.
“This follows sustained assessments by law enforcement agencies of the possibility that terrorists seek to harm citizens by discreetly planting explosives in public facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels, bars, entertainment centers, restaurants, parks, major highways, and places of worship.
“Security agencies are working to ensure residents and facilities are not damaged or destroyed.
“However, citizens are urged to be vigilant of this threat and to remain vigilant for suspicious individuals loitering or packages apparently abandoned in strategic locations.
“Greater general awareness is strongly encouraged and frequent thorough facility checks are recommended.
“Any suspicious person or object observed should be reported immediately to the nearest security formation. You can also contact the Security Operations Room, on lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.
“Quarry operators are also advised to enhance security at their sites and to ensure that explosive materials are not readily accessible to be transported for criminal purposes. Sites will be inspected for compliance.
“Close monitoring of the situation by security agencies will continue.”
Bomb incident in Kabala West
Earlier on Monday, Kaduna State Police spokesman Mohammed Jalige had confirmed an explosion in the Kabala West area of the state metropolis on Sunday.
Confirming the incident to NAN, Mr. Jalige said that “an explosion, suspected to be an improvised explosive device (IED), occurred on Sunday night in the Kabala West area of the government area. Kaduna South location.
“The explosion is suspected to be an IED, there are no recorded casualties in the incident. No one was in the building when it exploded. It happened on Sunday night around 9:45 p.m. “The bomb squad has been deployed to the site to analyze the particles that we removed from the site,” he said.
Jalige promised that details of the findings will be available after the investigation.
Badarawa Explosion
In July 2021, an explosive killed two children in the Badarawa area of Kaduna.
According to Kaduna police, the explosives were placed in a container of Viju milk and exploded while children were playing with them.
Aminu’s son Awwal died instantly, while his friend died hours later at Barau Dikko hospital in Kaduna.
