Anti-bomb cop dies in Kaduna twin bomb explosions

KADUNA – A twin bomb blast tore through Kaduna yesterday, killing a policeman and injured a Senior Special Adviser to the governor, Col. Dangana Maman (rtd). The first one went off at Ungwar Sarki Market, Kaduna North Local Government of Kaduna State at about 11:30am yesterday. Ten minutes later, another blast occurred about 500m away, under a busy overhead pedestrian bridge instantly killing a policeman, Sergeant Sunday Badang, an anti- bomb specialist who was trying to defuse the bomb.

The first explosion took place opposite the Kaduna state Transport Authority, KSTA, park, while the second explosion occurred at Sultan Bello road still in same Ungwar Sarki.

Late Badang sources said, was killed while using a bomb scanner to ascertain an object suspected to be a bomb allegedly dumped by Boko Haram sect in the area, which was near the Sultan Bello Mosque – an imposing structure revered by Kaduna Muslims as their central Mosque.
Announcing the death of Badang, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Nasarawa said, “Today (yesterday)  at about 10. 40am  and 10.45am respectively, there were two explosions that occurred at Ungwar Sarki Bus Stop Kaduna.

“The first Improvised Explosive Device, IED, exploded in a gutter near a parked 15-seater bus. No one was affected but as the second explosion occurred, a police anti bomb personnel, Sgt Sunday Badang, was about to defuse it and the IED exploded and he was killed instantly.

“The fragment (of the IED) affected two other persons near the scene. They were rushed to 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, for treatment and the victims are in stable condition. The area was equally swept by the police anti-bomb squad and no other explosive device was detected. Equally we have beefed up security in the entire state and members of the public are advised to report any suspicious object to security agencies and to avail us with credible information that will nip in the bud, these criminalities.”

Meanwhile, soldiers and policemen had a hectic time in trying to control a large crowd of curious people under the bridge just as most banks in the Kaduna metropolis closed abruptly to customers at 2 p.m. following the two bomb blasts that occurred in the city.

Eye witnesses told  Vanguards at the scene of the explosion that shortly after the first bomb exploded, another polythene bag containing some objects was discovered under the bridge.

One of the eye witnesses, Mallam Sani Ali said: “After the first explosion, policemen and soldiers were attracted to a polythene bag kept under this bridge. Those who saw the first explosion at the market side said it came from a similar bag.

“The deceased policeman asked the soldiers to leave the place to enable him scan the polythene bag but as he placed his instrument on the bag, it exploded and killed him, prompting  people to run  away.”

The body of the policeman was still lying on the main road with more than half of his body parts scattered all around the places, as at the time Vanguard visit there, even as schools, banks and shops were being closed in the area.

About three weeks ago, multiple explosions hit one at an Army formations in which the lone bomber was killed in his explosive laden vehicle.
Meanwhile, some bank customers told NAN that the the closure of the banks would affect their businesses.
’’We cannot carry or leave large sum in our shops.’’
Mr Emeka Agu, a trader, expressed disappointment at the development, saying that the blasts did not take place near commercial or business areas.

Banks along Yakubu Gowon Way, Ahmadu Bello road and Bank road among other business areas, stopped attending to customers at 2 p.m.

Mr Beji Auta, a security man at the First Bank, noted that the bank stopped rendering services for undisclosed reasons, but guessed that it was intended to ensure safety of customers’ deposits.