The Chairman Yobe State Council of chiefs and the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Mohammadu Idrisa has described the bomb attack on him two days ago as unfortunate.
The recent attack took a new twist last Friday when the traditional ruler narrowly escaped death after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the mosque where he was observing the Juma’at prayers in Potiskum, Yobe state.
The traditional ruler in an interview with Channels Television, expressed sadness that the attack is happening in the holiest and sacred month in the Islamic calendar.
Speaking to Channels Television in his palace in Potiskum, the royal father expressed his sadness that such dastard act was carried out on a Friday and in the Holy month of Ramadan when purity and complete sanctity is expected of all Muslims.
Both Friday and the month of Ramadan according to him are all very important in the Islamic faith as peace and lots of reflections are expected during the period.
He thanked God that no life was lost on the side of the innocent souls that were present in the Central Mosque but the Emir also expressed sadness at the injuries inflicted on the people for no reason.
The royal father called for prayers for peace to reign in the state and the nation as a whole.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Patrick Egbuniwe, told Channels Television that the attack on the Emir happened around 2:30PM after the Friday prayers.
He narrated that the Emir escaped the attack because the bomber was pushed aside by the police orderly attached to the Emir, who suspected his moves.
According to the police boss, the bomber fell to the ground and the bomb exploded, killing the bomber while the police orderly fractured his shoulder.
Mr Egbuniwe also stated that an unexploded bomb was found within the bomber’s body as the men of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad were deplored to defuse it.
Four other people were said to have sustained various injuries in the attack.
But another attack was recorded just two days after the failed attempt on the Emir as seven people were killed and about ten others injured, in an explosion which rocked Damaturu, the Yobe state capital on Sunday in another failed suicide bombing attempt.
Two more soldiers died
Meanwhile, the number of soldiers who died in yesterday’s suicide bomb attack in Damaturu, has risen to eight as two more soldiers have died in the hospital where they were rushed following the bomb explosion.
This was confirmed to our correspondent, Jonathan Gopep, by the Yobe state commissioner of police, Mr Paptrick Egbuniwe.
Normalcy has however returned to the state capital, Damaturu, as civil servants were seen in their offices, especially those offering essential services. While some of the shops remained shut, others were open for business.
Banks were however closed as most people who queued for various transactions went home disappointed.
Security checks have been intensified as vehicles were held up on roads while searches were conducted by the security operatives.