Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has directed police officers to ensure massive stop and search activities in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is contained in statement by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), ACP Olabisi Kolawole, in Abuja on Saturday.
“Following the incidents, the Police High Command directed an immediate deployment of Police Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units to the scenes to prevent further destructions,’’ the statement said.
At least, twenty people died in a twin bomb blast at different locations on Friday night by suicide bombers in Kuje Area Council, FCT.
The statement assured residents of the FCT and the entire country not to panic as the police were prepared to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
It said those that carried out the dastardly acts did so in shame of cowardice, adding that no matter the purpose of their activities, Nigeria would not accommodate terrorists’ acts.
The statement stated that preliminary investigations revealed that two suicide bombers; a male and a female, carried out the bombings.
It urged Nigerians to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious persons or objects to the nearest police station or any other security agencies for prompt intervention.
An eye witness said that a female suicide bomber detonated the first bomb while attempting to gain entrance to the Kuje Police Station.
Mr Abraham Gabriel, a resident of Kuje, said that the first blast occurred about 9:45 p.m. while the second blast went off at the Kuje main market 15 minutes later by a male suicide bomber.
Gabriel said that the female suicide bomber, while attempting to gain entrance to the police station through the fence, detonated the bomb and it killed her instantly.
He said that a young man on a motorcycle rode close to the entrance of Kuje main market detonated explosives, killing some people who are mostly traders on the spot.
“I thought it was a transformer that exploded until when I went there and discovered that it was a bomb blast and discovered bodies all over the place.
He said he joined hands with some of the security agents that arrived in the scene to evacuate bodies into the ambulance.
An official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said 17 people, who sustained various degrees of injuries, had been taken to hospitals.
Another eyewitness, Mrs Rebaca Shehu, said it was about 9:47 p.m. when she heard the sound of the bomb blast.
At the scene were a combined team of soldiers, police and Civil Defence Corps working in the area.
The Chief Medical Director of Kuje General Hospital, Dr Terbunde Helen, said that 17 victims were brought to the hospital by NEMA officials.
She said 12 others were transferred to Abuja National Hospital, while others have been treated and discharged.
The Police Commissioner in FCT, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, visited the scene in company of Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr David Babachir and FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr John Chukwu.
The police commissioner described the incident as unfortunate, saying the government would not give any statement on the incident until after a fact finding mission had been concluded.
On Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned, in the strongest terms, the latest terror attacks in Abuja, Borno and Adamawa.
This is contained in a statement personally signed by him in Abuja.
The President said: “These cowardly attacks expose the real face of the planners and perpetrators of these crimes.’’
He noted that the attacks in Maiduguri, Yola and Abuja were apparently timed to coincide with Independence Day celebrations when Nigerians would be commemorating and rejoicing October Day.
“What quarrel do they have with the good people of Nyanya Motor Park? What issue do they have with innocent people in market places in Maiduguri, Yola and Kuje?
“It is clear this battle is not ideological. It is between the forces of peace and order and the evil forces of murder and destruction,’’ he said.
Buhari, however, stated that security forces and other local authorities had been instructed to maintain extra vigilance to forestall future attacks.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to stamp out Boko Haram and all other terrorists of whatever persuasions and bring all sponsors to justice.
He said that the armed forces have been empowered to crush what remains of Boko Haram.
The President condoled with the families of the dead and prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries as a result of the attacks.
