Police defuse bomb in Gombe

The Police anti-bomb squad in Gombe State on Monday averted tragedy when it defused a bomb in Fantami area of Gombe state.

A resident of the area, Mustafa Ismail informed PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone that the bomb was brought into the area by two men riding in a golf vehicle.

“The men called a small boy and gave him a parcel and pointed to a spot at a house not far from mine to go and keep,”

he said.

Mr. Mustafa also said unfortunately for the attackers, the young boy was smart and alerted people nearby.

“Upon his shouts the two men sped away and the boy threw away the parcel and took to his heel, while all hell let loose as people began to run away in all directions,” he said.

He also said members of the anti-bomb squad were promptly alerted and they arrived the scene to detonate the explosive device.

Another resident of Fantami said the private House of former Governor Goje, who also resides in the area, may be the target because the spot they asked the boy to place the parcel is not far from the former governor’s house.

A similar attack was also foiled last month around the Water board office when suspected members of the Boko Haram sect tried to set off an explosive device, but vigilant residents who suspected them alerted the police and military officials.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the police in Gombe, Fwaje Atajiri, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone were not answered. He also did not respond to our text message at the time of publishing this story.