Be warned!!! Bombs or Xmas hampers!?

THREE days to Christmas, the police and the Christian Association of Nigeria  (CAN) have warned members of the public that terrorists could send bombs to them disguised as Christmas hampers.

The warning came just as the two boards of enquiries set up by military authorities to probe the bomb blasts that, last month, rocked a church inside the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State, submitted their reports, pointing at possible collusion of “insiders” with the terrorists.

The Gombe State police command on Friday urged members of the public to be on the lookout for explosive devices that could be packaged in Christmas hampers as gifts for people.

The police warning was contained in a statement issued in Gombe by DSP Fwaje Atajiri, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).

He said that such bomb-laden parcels could then be dispatched to unsuspecting members of the public as goodwill gifts.

“Members of the public should be wary of hamper gifts and parcels as they could contain Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” he said.

The PPRO also said that religious leaders should “educate their followers to avoid being poisoned.”

Atajiri said that citizens should also take other precautionary measures to ensure hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.

He also told religious and community leaders to assist the police with useful information to protect life and property.

Also, the Kano State command of the Nigeria Police said it was working round the clock to provide water-tight security during the yuletide, just as the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) advised the Christian community to be cautious while receiving hampers.

The state Secretary of CAN, Apostle Isaac Bello, said the body had held series of meetings with leaders and security operatives on how to ensure security during and after the Christmas and New Year celebration.”

While noting that security should be seen as a collective responsibility, Apostle Bello advised Christians to insist that whoever brought gifts to them during the season should open them in their presence to avoid receiving harmful and dangerous gifts.

In Kaduna State on Friday, the Assistant Director of Information at the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sani Usman Kukasheka, said “We are doing our utmost best to ensure peace and security in our area of operational responsibility, especially for a hitch-free yuletide celebration. We appeal to people to go about their lawful activities and help by being vigilant and security-conscious, reporting suspicious people and activities to security agents.”

In another development, it has been revealed that no fewer than 21 persons, including an Air Commodore, were killed in the November 25 twin bomb blasts that rocked the St. Andrew’s Protestant Military Church at the Jaji cantonment.

Also, not less than 30 others were injured in the blast.

These revelations came to light as the two boards of enquiries set up by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, submitted their reports.

 The report equally indicted some soldiers for complicity in the bomb blast.

The suicide bombers had used two cars, a Volkswagen Golf 3 and a Toyota Camry for the attack.

The source revealed that because of the connivance, the suicide bombers were allowed easy access to the church premises, just as the service was closing.

It was gathered that those mostly affected when the bomb exploded were soldiers and their families who were coming out from the church service.

Saturday Tribune gathered that an Air Commodore, who was in charge of the Air Faculty at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, was also killed in the blast.

The source revealed that the Commodore, whose official residence was near the church, had rushed out to find out what was happening when the first explosion went off.

In the quest to find out the cause of the explosion, the second one was released in the Camry car, which burnt the officer.

He was immediately rushed to 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna, and as his condition was deteriorating, he was immediately flown to India, where he died last week.

It has been revealed that no fewer than 10 soldiers who were found to have compromised are currently being detained and are to face court martial.

The explosion at the cantonment led to the immediate removal of the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Kure, and the Commandant, Infantry Centre Corps, Major-General M. D. Isah.

They were immediately replaced by Air Vice Marshal Ossin and Major-General Kingsley Osuji.

From gatherings, a number of officers and soldiers have been posted out of the Jaji cantonment while new ones have replaced them.

Security arrangements have also been tightened in the cantonment.