Outrage, Fears As ISWAP Claimed Responsibility For Iware Bomb Blast

·         Jalingo Porous To Attacks- Security Sources

·         CP Sends Anti-Bomb Squads, Assures Safety 

·         Ishaku , Speaker, Micah Doppah, Victor Bala  Condemns Attack

·         30 People Killed in  Kwentwen Village in Ussa

 

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for a deadly explosion that killed several people at a local beer spot in Iware, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State .

 

 Casualty figures from the Tuesday evening's explosion has  however risen to six.

The Mai-Angwan of Mashaya Community in Angwan Kassa, the community where the attacker detonated the explosive., Martins Lauje who spoke confirmed the casualty figure.

He said the incident came as a rude shock to them and solicited for more security presence in their community.

 

Taraba State Police Command says it has sent a strong investigative team to the Iware community in Ardo Kola Local Government Area of the state where an explosion took place on Tuesday evening.

 

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya speaking  through the PPRO of the Command, DSP Usman Abdullahi explained that already  the anti-bomb unit who are working round the clock to ensure that there are no remnants of the explosive, while the men of the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) are now going on intelligent aimed at unravelling sources behind the attack.

 

"As you know yesterday we recovered three corpses who were killed as a result of the explosion at Iware and almost nineteen persons injured who are currently receiving treatment at the FMC Jalingo, while later on, we got another woman who was also a victim of the explosion who later died while receiving treatment,

 

"so now the number has risen to six out of which five identified corpses have been claimed by their relatives while no claim to the one that is suspected to be one of the suspected bombers. The CP is preparing to visit the scene after which we will compile our report and submit it." The PPRO revealed.

 

DSP Usman Abdullahi advised the general public to be calm and go about their normal businesses as the command has taken over the situation, as well as urged them to shun rumor-mongering, and posting of fake news on social media, and to be security conscious.

He also said the police team in collaboration with hunters and vigilantes are currently combing the area.

Meanwhile Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba state, has again urged Tarabans be vigilant and to report strange visitors to their communities promptly to security agencies and traditional authorities in their communities.

 

He stated this via a press statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Jalingo, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, while joining the league of personalities that have condemned recent bomb explosion that rocked Iware village of Ardo-Kola council. 

 

The said explosion, it would be recalled led to several deaths with others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

 

 Describing the attack as "barbaric, wicked and an act of unprovoked aggression against innocent people" he urged security agencies to go after the perpetrators of this heinous crime and to make them pay for their sins.

 

While expressing sympathy with the families of those killed in the attack, his administration, as promised by him , will extend the much desired helping hands to those injured and are receiving treatment in hospitals.

The  Chairman of Ardo-Kola LGA, Ismail Zakari, said the state government had taken proactive action to ensure the wounded were given adequate care.

Also the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini (MP), has on Wednesday during a plenary session condemned in strong terms the bomb blast and described the act by the faceless people as bestial and inhuman, because the State has enjoyed relative peace.

 

The Speaker   described the dastardly act by faceless people as bestial and inhuman, considering the fact that the State has enjoyed relative peace.

 

He decried that the disdainful and dastardly act by the miscreants came at the time when the State Government has been doing everything humanly possible for peace to reign in the State and ensure security of lives and property of the people. 

 

Against this backdrop, he urged the security agencies to brace up to tackle the ugly trend head on, because the State, hitherto described as the most peaceful in the North East geopolitical Zone, cannot afford to witness the carnage and new wave of terrorism.

 

He further called on Tarabans to be vigilant and conscious of the people they relate with, as well as report suspicious persons to the appropriate authorities, especially with the commencement of the electioneering campaigns.

 

He, therefore, condoled Ardo Kola local government area, the District Head of Iware and the State government on the ugly incident.

 

Also Member Representing Ardo-kola Constituency at the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon Dominic Bukuni has condemned the bomb explosion that occurred in Iware community in Ardokola on Tuesday.

 

Speaking from his sick bed, Dominic Bukuni, called on the state government to beef up the security of the community to forestall future reoccurrence.

 

He urged government to liaise with the security agents to ensure identifying the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to book.

Hon Dominic Bukuni, however urged the residents to watch out against bad elements and report suspicious characters to security agents and caution them against taking the laws in to their hands..

 

Also a PDP Governorship aspirant , Chief  Victor Bala Kona is saddened by the incidence condemned the act, describing it as inhuman, babaric, and uncalled for in our dear state that has enjoyed relative peace over time.

 

Chief Victor in a statement signed by his  SA Media Peter George enjoined Tarabans to remain vigilant in these turbulent times and be mindful of their interactions and relationships with people especially those they are not conversant with and report any suspicious move to the authorities.

 

Cheif Victor Bala prayed that God will grant eternal rest to the dearly departed souls, wished rapid recovery to others who sustained various injuries during the explosion and also prayed that God will give the bereaved fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.