SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, (THEWILL) – Suicide bombers Wednesday night returned to Gombe State, Wednesday night, rocking two motor parks in the state capital, as the multiple blasts sent shivers down the spines of residents of the town, especially those residing around the Dadin-Kowa Motor Park, along Biu Road in Gombe and the Dakku motor park, also within the metropolis, where the explosions took place.
The explosions, which had the hallmark of the Boko Haram, came just a few hours after the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, paid a working visit to the state, where he assured Nigerians of adequate protection of their lives and property,
Local sources told THEWILL the first explosion went off around 7.40pm at Dadin-Kowa park while two other blasts rocked the Dakku motor park about 20 minutes later.
Spokesperson for the state Police Command, Deputy Superintendent, Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the blasts.
He however said that the area had been cordoned off and the Police, Red Cross and other emergency workers are busy conveying survivors to hospital for medical attention.
Giving a graphic detail of the explosions, an eye witness, Adamu Ciroma, explained that the second explosion was more devastating, as it hit groups of people that were still at the park.
According to Ciroma, “The bombs were concealed in two different bags and they went off simultaneously, while people were still at the park, we just heard the loud bangs, one after the other and we had to run for our dear lives.”
Also confirming the attacks, the information officer in charge of the Gombe office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Umar Madigawa, said many fatalities were recorded in the massive explosions.
According to Madigawa, “The explosions were three but at two motor parks, Dadin Kowa and Station Dukku. I cannot just give you the number of casualties right now but men from our office and the Red Cross are involved in evacuating the dead bodies and injured to the hospital.
“One other thing I can volunteer now is that several people were killed in the explosions and many persons injured.”
