3 killed as gunmen bomb police station, 2 banks

                                                    


Three people have been confirmed killed when gunmen yesterday bombed the Divisional Police Station and two commercial banks in Azare, Bauchi State.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed to newsmen in his office yesterday that one policeman, a soldier and a civilian were killed during the attack.

Aduba said, “Over 20 rocket propelled bombs were launched from outside the Area Command’s headquarters building and it completely devastated the building.” The police commissioner said that about 30 policemen on duty at the Area Commanders office responded and repelled the attackers. There was heavy exchange of fire between the police and the gunmen that lasted over four hours, the CP said.


“The attack was launched simultaneously at six facilities including the Mobile base, the Area Commander’s office/police station, two new generation banks and one Ali Kwara’s residence.” 

He said among those killed was one OMF personnel, a soldier and a civilian while three soldiers and two policemen suffered bullet wounds and are currently under treatment.
Daily Sun learnt that some policemen were injured and it is feared that the death toll might increase.
The gunmen reportedly hauled bombs at the police station and two new generation banks, destroying the buildings.
The latest attacks, one too many, has further exposed the lapses in the security system, particularly, the police and heightened fears among residents in the state.

A resident of Azare, the capital of Katagum Local Government Area of the state, said, he heard gunshots and explosives at about some few minutes past midnight. Our correspondent learnt that the whole roof of the police station was completely blown off. Residents told Daily Sun that gunshots were heard near the house of a renowned-armed robbers catcher in Azare called Ali Kwara. It is not clear at the time of filing this report whether the gunmen carted away money from the bank. Mobile policemen and military were seen on the streets of Azare patrolling with armoured tanks as at the time of filing this report, Daily Sun reports.

Attacks on banks and police station which have claimed many lives of policemen and civilians have been a reoccurrence in Bauchi State of recent. The attack on Azare is the second as a bank was attacked some time ago while the Misau, Gamawa and Alkaleri as well as Toro stations were also attacked. The attacks particularly on banks prompted the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim to order the Force Investigation Department to investigate the attacks.

Meanwhile, banks in Bauchi State are now gripped with fear following letters of threat written by some gunmen who planned to attack. Banks now close their services by 1:00 pm because of the fear of the possible attacks. The development has created fear in the minds of customers, some of whom told our correspondents that they now fear going to the banks to transact business.

Aduba said that the invasion of Misau and Gamawa by daredevil armed robbers spurred him to embark on operational tour of all divisions and formations throughout the state.