At least five persons lost their lives on Sunday night in Ringim Local Council of Jigawa State in attacks launched by unknown gunmen, which targeted the Unity Bank and the residence of former Inspector General of Police Hafiz Abubakar Ringim.
The attackers, who stormed the town in a Volkswagen Golf car, launched the first salvo on the Unity Bank along Kano/Hadejia Road where the two security men manning the gates were killed by explosives used to bring down the security gate.
The main entrance to the bank was brought down by the IED though police confirmed the gunmen were unable to gain access to the safe.
As at the time of this report on Monday afternoon, some IED that did not explode were found littered at the entrance of the bank though guarded by police anti- bomb squad.
The residence of former Inspector General of Police was not spared, though the attackers were unable to penetrate his compound, IEDs were alleged to have been thrown into the compound.
A police patrol van assigned to the former IG’s house was razed and the charred remains of the vehicle were lying in front of the house.
The Deputy Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Inuwa Sule Udi also had his fair share of the attack as bullets perforated the entrance gate of his house.
A witness said the DPO’s intervention saved the lives of over 500 children who were taking Islamic lesson inside the Mosque within the divisional police headquarters.
The DPO was said to have instructed his men to smuggle the children through the fence.
Witnesses said that gunshots and explosions, which started at about 7.30 pm, rocked the entire town of Ringim, and many residents described the attack as a situation akin to laying siege on the town.
“The explosions started after Isha prayers when heavy explosions were heard from the direction of the residence of the former IG while sporadic exchange of gunfire ensued immediately as residents scampered for safety.”
Another witness added that the explosions and shootings were directed towards the ex-IG’s residence and the police Divisional Headquarters adjacent to the house.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police Jigawa State, Muhammad Kabir Muhammad, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer Abdul Jinjiri confirmed that five lives were lost, three police officers and two security men at the bank.
The State Commissioner of Police, Theophillus Kayode also confirmed the incident and said that soldiers and policemen had been drafted to the area.
According to him: “Initial reports reaching us said that the hoodlums had attacked a branch of Unity Bank in that place but could not get money and that was why they decided to seek alternative means.
“I cannot give you any casualty figures for now or the extent of damage because as I speak to you now (about 9. 30 p.m.), the shootings are still going on.”
Robbers Not Terrorists
The Acting Governor of Jigawa state, Ahmed Gumel, said Sunday’s attack on Ringim Town was the work of armed robbers, not insurgents.
Mr Gumel who is also the deputy to Sule Lamido, the state governor, also confirmed that five persons were killed during the attack.
In an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, Mr Gumel said, “The attackers shot sporadically into the air to scare away the people after which they set off an explosive device beneath an armoured car parked in front of the residence of the former Police IG, Hafiz Ringim. They also shot two policemen guarding the house and two other civilians,” said.
He added that the attackers then went on to vandalise a branch of Unity Bank.
Mr. Gumel said that Sunday’s attack is similar to the one carried out in Gwaram Town, which turned out to be the work of armed robbers.
It is of note that though Jigawa is surrounded by states in the North that are facing serious security challenges, it has remained peaceful except for similar attacks in Gwaram late last year where another Unity Bank and the adjacent police station were bombed.
