confession of a 13 years old suicide bomber arrested by the police at
the wake of twin bombblast that rocked the city textile market over
how she was conscripted as suicide bomber by his biological father.
The suicide bomber who identified herself as Zaharau Babangida told a
bewildered city dwellers that 'it began one day when my father took my
mum and I to a forest in Bauchi where we met people claiming to be
working for God".
In her confession, the frail looking Zaharau said "in the Bauchi
forest I met some other girls who I guessed were my age mate and their
leader told us to give our lives to God and enjoy the bounties of
heaven'.
I was not moved by the soul searching preaching of bounties in the
heaven and it was at this point, their leader resorted to threat and
intimidation to obtain my consent. We were shown a deep hole where the
leader of the group threatened to bury us alive at a point if any of
us refused to play along, and at another time he picked a big gun and
threatened to shoot anyone who fails to obey his command."
Zaharau who told reporters that she hailed from Damaturu, the capital
city of Yobe state explained that "it was at this point my father
stepped forward to persuade me to play along, and told me to prepare
to die as martyr and clear the way for him to join me soon".
The 13 years old girl who spoke fluent Hausa dialect further said
"when I was confronted with option of death, I chose to play along
hoping to find an escape route one day".
Speaking on the Kano bomb blast, Zaharau Babangida said "I and two
other girls were conveyed to Kano and quartered at the outskirt of the
city by a man I could hardly remember his name, and this same man
conveyed all of us to the market square and deployed us at strategic
positions at Kwari market on the day we struck.
"I was taken aback when my partners were shattered to pieces barely a
second after they detonated. I then rushed out of the scene to pick a
commercial rickshaw to a hospital in Dawanau area of the city for
medical treatment, and doctors were already attending to me when the
driver of the Keke NAPEP resurfaced and showed me a metal object and
requested to know whether it was mine of which I answered in
affirmative.
"I told him the object he dangled before me is a bomb and its mine,
and in no time armed soldiers picked me from my sick bed to their
headquarters."
Earlier in the day, the Department of State Security Services and the
Nigerian Police had paraded her as one of the suicide bombers that
attacked Kano textile market December 10.
The Commissioner of police, Adelenre Shinaba who was flanked by the
state Director of SS, Mr. Basey Ettang explained that the arrest was
as a result of synergy among the security agents in the state.
Meanwhile, a suicide bomber who rammed into a military check point in
Bajoga, Gombe State in an attempt to perpetrate mass killings of
troops and innocent civilians, yesterday failed to accomplish his
mission, the Defence Headquarters' has said.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Defence
Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, the attempt by the
terrorist to escape also failed as he was brought down by vigilant
soldiers when he tried to flee after hitting a military Amoured
Personnel Carrier with his IED laden Honda car.
The explosives which failed to detonate have been evacuated and handed
to the police.
Also in Kano, security forces have raided the terrorists' hideout in
Nasarawa Local Government Area leading to the arrest of bomb making
experts who are already helping in the investigation into activities
of bombers lately.
Officers believe that the efforts will yield useful clues.
Meanwhile, the Military High Command has directed troops deployed in
all locations of the counter terrorism campaign to sustain the tempo
of operations all through the period of seasonal celebrations and
ensure that the intention of terrorists to attack civilian target
while avoiding troops is duly frustrated.
--Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment