I Was Told My Husband Died In Accident -Widow

Eleven children and six women including one said to be wife of the Thisday headquarters bomber in Abuja were yesterday rescued by a joint security operation in Rikkos, Jos when members comprising of the Plateau state Special Task Force, the State Security Service and the Nigerian Police force stormed the area in search of a […]

Eleven children and six women including one said to be wife of the Thisday headquarters bomber in Abuja were yesterday rescued by a joint security operation in Rikkos, Jos when members comprising of the Plateau state Special Task Force, the State Security Service and the Nigerian Police force stormed the area in search of a suspected Boko Haram member.

It could be recalled that three persons, including the suicide bomber died, when Thisday newspaper office in Abuja was attacked on April 26.

The attack which happened when most journalists were not in the office left 13 others injured, among them a 12-year-old kid.

Sunday Trust gathered that the primary suspect escaped the raid leaving behind his wife and five children including five other women and six children. One of the women who was said to be the alleged wife of the Thisday bomber, Hauwa Mohammed told reporters that she and her husband had moved to Jos from Damaturu to live with her husband’s Malam who is now at large.

Narrating her ordeal to reporters, Hauwa said her husband who was into car washing business had travelled with his Malam a few weeks ago to an unknown destination and a few days later the Malam had returned to tell her that her husband had died in an accident.

According to her “I don’t know what is happening we were only arrested by the military but Malam was not arrested because he was not in the house. Even before the security operatives came to the house, he told us he was travelling that day.”

Sunday Trust gathered that a lap top, external hard disc, eight cell phones, 23 sim cards and 19 prepared Improvised Explosive Detonators were recovered by the security operators on Thursday May 17 which was the first day of the raid. It was also gathered that one of the explosives had detonated early yesterday morning shortly before security operatives had gone into the house for further search.

A statement signed by the STF spokes person Captain Markus Mdahyelya said “further search of the house at about 6:30am of May 19 we discovered one AK-47, four magazines fully loaded with 7.62mm and 150 rounds of 7.62mm, 347 rounds of 9mm, 8 bags of Urea Nitrate Fertilizer, two generators, four improvised Explosive Devices, 395 sniper ammo, 60m of cortex (blue wire), four containers of sodium oxide, one potassium chloride, three lead nitrate, two Aluminium Metal Powder, one remote control, and white sulphurs. During the search one improvised explosive device detonated but nobody was injured.”

Other items recovered include a Holy Bible, Holy Quran, 2011 amended Nigerian constitution, the Police Act and Regulations and some other books.

After parading the recovered items from the house, the hide out was demolished to the ground by members of the Special Task Force. While sending a strict warning to landlords, Mdahyelya warned that “the general public is therefore warned not to allow their houses to be used by terrorists as it will be demolished just like this one. Landlords are also advised to thoroughly screen their tenants and report any suspected person to the appropriate security agencies for prompt action.”

An interview with a neighbour around the area revealed that the suspect and women had moved into the neighbourhood about four months ago. The source explained that “we normally see different cars in the house but we have never seen the man of the house. Though there was an instance one of the women sent a boy of about 4 years old to come and buy some things in my house, but they have been reserved and the women are always in doors.”

Another source living in the area told Sunday Trust that he once saw the suspect driving a gulf car around the area. He added that “the man is not tall and he limps, we heard that a woman came to see him before the raid and since then he disappeared.”

The STF spokesperson also revealed to reporters that the women and children found in the house were not arrested rather they were rescued from solitary confinement and will be investigated and rehabilitated.

He therefore urged the general public to go about their normal businesses warning that any act of lawlessness would not be tolerated.