-No Casualty Recorded – Police
Soldiers have arrested 17 suspects in connection with Saturday night’s bomb attack in Mubi, Adamawa.
Lt. Victor Olukoya, the Public Relations Officer of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, confirmed the arrests on Sunday, while speaking with news men in Yola.
Olukoya said that the blast occurred in Mubi around 8.20 p.m. on Saturday while an Army patrol vehicle was passing by, prompting the soldiers to comb the neighbourhood and arrest 17 suspects.
“When the blast occurred our men, who were not far away from the area, swung into action and combed the areas where 17 suspects were arrested. The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation,’’ he said.
Olukoya said that that no soldier was injured in the blast, adding, however, the windscreen of the army patrol vehicle was shattered by the explosion.
14 people were killed by gunmen in Mubi in two separate attacks on Thursday and Friday.
A similar attack by gunmen occurred in Yola on Friday where 12 people were killed.
The Police Command in Adamawa confirmed that there were no casualties in Saturday night bomb blast in Mubi township.
The explosion occurred, barely 48 hours after 14 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen in the town.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Altine Daniel, said on Sunday in Mubi that the blast occurred at the centre of the city.
Daniel said the attackers engaged in sporadic shooting after detonating the bomb, adding that “no causalities were recorded in the blast”.
Malam Umaru Bura, an eyewitness, said that the explosion occurred near a military check point along Ahmadu Bello Way.
He said the impact of the blast damaged buildings; bill boards at the NNPC Filling Station, and uprooted trees in the area.
“We heard a powerful blast, followed by sporadic gunfire, which lasted for more than 40 minutes,” Bura said.
Adamawa Government imposed curfew in Mubi after the blast, and offered monetary reward for information that could lead to the arrest of those who killed 14 people on Saturday.
A joint military and police team now patrols the town to protect lives and property.
The Mubi Emirate Council has also banned the use of motorcycles in Mubi and adjourning villages, in a bid to curtail the spate of attacks on residents.
Hundreds of families have fled the town after the attacks.