Panic Rocks Kaduna Over Boko Haram's Bomb Threat!

There was tension in Kaduna State following a threat by suspected Islamic sect, Boko Haram members to bomb Kaduna in the coming days.

But the police public relations officer, Kaduna command, Aminu Lawan, said the command is on top of the situation and would do everything possible to prevent any bomb attack in the state.

"We are collaborating with other stakeholders, because this kind of issue is not going to be a one-man affair or a one business. It's going to be a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. We have community and religious leaders and we have different organisations.

"These organisations have roles to play in nipping this type of incidence in the bud. Everybody has a specific role to play so that we can be able to handle the situation that we are in," he explained.

Mr Aminu who explained that apart from the normal routine patrol and surveillance by security agencies, people should also be vigilant and have the level of alertness to report any suspicious object or movement to the police.

According to him, the anti-bomb special squad of the Nigeria Police is very much at alert to respond to any emergency situation.

The sect declared: "We are ready for the Nigerian state, after the training of our commandos in Somalia, northern states such as Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, should watch out for us especially in Kaduna." The sect in an online statement, however warned all civilians to avoid military formations especially the police, stating that "we are stepping up our attacks in the coming weeks in all northern states. The failed assassination attempt on the Inspector General of Police will not deter us as we are going to attack the entire northern parts of the country including Abuja. People should, therefore, avoid crowded places and gatherings," the statement warned.

Security alert

The group claimed that its mission is to make the country ungovernable until all their members detained illegally by the police are released. They said they would revenge the unjust killing of their leaders and members by security agents.

Meanwhile, security was tight at the headquarters of the Kaduna police command yesterday as all the vehicles going into the premises were screened by anti-bomb police men as part of security measures to avert any breach of the peace.

The same was seen at the headquarters of the Nigerian Prisons located along Independence Way where members of the Operation Yaki security outfit positioned about six vehicles around the prison.

The tight security came on the heels of information of an impending jail break by the sect whose members are currently detained at the prison.

Also, security has been beefed up at the Sir Kasim Ibrahim House, the official residence of the state governor, Patrick Yakowa. A combined team of Mobile Police and soldiers are now guarding the main entrance to the Government House including all the major roads leading to the state's seat of power.