With barely two days into Ramadan, another bomb, suspected to have been planted by the members of the Jamatul Ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, exploded at Gomari Airport Ward in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State. One person was feared dead.
Confirming the incident to journalists on phone, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt.-Col. Hassan Mohammed said a bomb exploded by the road side at Gomari Airport road at about 7:13am.
He, however, claimed that there was no casualty.
He added that after the explosion, the Boko Haram members started shooting sporadically, adding that the JTF members engaged the sect in a shootout. According to him, the development led to the injury of one civilian, who was said to have died later, according to an eyewitness.
The JTF spokesman said the bomb was not targeted at anybody but was planted at the road side, adding that the Boko Haram members wanted to scare people who were gradually returning to Maiduguri after fleeing the town at the heat of the crisis.
He said although no arrest had been made in connection with the incident, the JTF was on top of the situation and assured the public of protection of their lives and property.
Meanwhile, the federal government has urged the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East zone of the country to work with all stakeholders towards bringing lasting solution in the areas.
The 8-man committee which is charge with the responsibility of finding a way of ending the security challenges in the zone as a result of the activities of members of the Boko Haram sect, is expected to complete its assignment and submit a final report to the government on or before August 16, 2011.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said the assignment was in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s belief that security of the country should be a concern of every Nigerians.
Anyim added that, “Mr. President decided to set up this committee as a way of involving all the key stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in Borno State and other parts of the north.
“The central purpose of setting up this committee is to create a forum whereby every person who has suggestions on the way forward will without restriction reach out to the committee with ease”.
Anyim said the committee’s terms of reference among others includes reviewing all the issues of security challenges in the zone and proffering solution/recommendations which would bring a speedy resolution of the crisis.
Members of the committee include Amb.Usman Gaji Galtimari as the chairman, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Mr. Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN),, Col Musa Shehu (rtd.), and FCT minister Senator Bala Mohammed.
Others are minister of defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed, minister of labour, Emeka Wogu and Abdullahi B. Shehu of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Usman Gaji appealed to government to allow the committee to co-opt more hands to ensure a comprehensive coverage of the work.
The chairman also said that the time frame given to the committee may not be feasible, because with the Ramadan just beginning, some individuals the committee may want to dialogue with will be away for the Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
He however appealed to the members of the sect and other Nigerians to give peace a chance by helping to bring a speedy solution to the crisis.
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