Bomb blast injures three in Yola
[b]President rejects N400m armoured cars[/b]The National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo
Dasuki (rtd) has said that President
Muhammadu Buhari never ordered the
dismantling of all military checkpoints in the
country.
His statement overrides the statement made
by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Defence, Ismail Aliyu, who after a security
meeting last month, announced that the
president had ordered the dismantling of
military roadblocks and directed the police to
take over internal security.
Dasuki, who met top military and security
chiefs in his office in Abuja yesterday clarified
that the directive of the president was never a
blanket order to remove all military
checkpoints.
The NSA said military roadblocks in flashpoints
would continue to be maintained while those in
relatively peaceful areas would be dismantled
but soldiers would continue to be positioned in
those areas while not blocking roads.
He said it was both conventional and the global
practice for governments to increase security
measures whenever insecurity is heightened
and appealed to citizens to endure the
temporary inconvenience the roadblocks may
cause.
According to him, essential security checkpoints
in vulnerable areas were a “necessary
inconvenience” to ensure criminals and
terrorists do not have easy passage.
He cited some arrests made recently including
that of the mastermind of bomb attacks in
some towns who were nabbed by Nigerian
troops at such checkpoints.
While condemning the indiscriminate
proliferation of security checkpoints by
unauthorised bodies, he said: “We will continue
to ensure that the necessary or essential
security checkpoints are not avenues for
extortion, indiscipline and other forms of
corrupt practices that can exacerbate traffic
flow and cause road accidents.”
He added that the government was deploying
new sophisticated scanners and detectors in
some areas to ease traffic and to identify
movement of strange objects, concealed
weapons and criminal suspects.
“With the effective use of technology, which
minimises physical contact between security
personnel and citizens, the time spent at
designated security checkpoints will ultimately
be reduced,” he said.
Dasuki added however that “whenever
necessary, soldiers will mount their
checkpoints to conduct security screening in
emergency situations and for quick response”.
Despite the clarification on the reinstatement
of military checkpoints in the country, an
explosion was reported to have rocked the
Kofare area of Yola, the Adamawa State capital
yesterday, resulting in the injury of three
persons.
Thursday’s, blast occurred barely one month
after a another bombing rocked the city, killing
many and injuring several others,
The blast happened close to a car repair
workshop opposite the state headquarters of
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) along
Numan Road.
Eyewitnesses said four underage children were
given the explosive to drop at a specific place
in the Bachure suburb near the army barracks,
which is mainly inhabited by retired military
personnel.
Two of the young boys who were handed the
explosive were arrested by the police and
confessed that an unknown person had given
them the device to drop at the targeted
location. They were given N2,500 for the
assignment.
The boys, aged between 9 and 15, further
revealed that after collecting the container, it
was too heavy for them to deliver to the
suburb.
According to them, the boys were left with no
option than to try to sell it to a garbage
scavenger, who they ran into at the mechanic’s
workshop nearby.
They claimed that the scavenger they
approached refused to buy the container,
saying that he does not buy anything under a
certain weight.
It was while they boys were negotiating with
the scavenger that the explosive in the
container went off.
The said scavenger, who was injured by the
blast and rushed to the hospital, is now said to
be helping the police with their investigation.
The injured man explained that while he was
negotiating with the boys, he noticed smoke
billowing from the container, but before he
could walk away, it went off shattering his legs
and injuring two of boys who were carrying the
explosive.
In the ensuing confusion following explosion,
the other boys sneaked away from the scene of
the blast.
The sound of the blast attracted the attention
of officials of the FRSC to the scene.
The sector commander of FRSC, Mr. Luka Ikpi
told journalists that when he heard the blast he
ran out of his office to ascertain what had
happened.
“One version suggested that it was a burst tyre
since it was close to a mechanic’s workshop. But
I insisted that my intelligence officers should
go and confirm.
“On reaching there, it was discovered to be an
explosive and the boys were arrested and
brought here even before the arrival of anti-
bomb squad from the state police command,”
he stated.
When the anti-bomb squad and other security
operatives arrived at the scene, many arrests
were made, including those within the vicinity
of the mechanic’s workshop.
All the suspects picked up in the area were
taken to the state Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) of the police command in three
Hilux trucks.
Meanwhile, in line with his commitment to
slash government spending and entrench
prudence in the system, the president was said
to have rejected a proposal to purchase five
new armoured Mercedes S-600 (V222) cars for
his use at a cost of about N400 million.
The proposal for the purchase of the new cars
was brought to Buhari’s attention by the
Permanent Secretary in the State House, Mr.
Nebolisa Emodi at a briefing on Wednesday.
Directing that the proposal to procure the cars
be dropped, the president said there was no
need for them since the ones he inherited
from former President Goodluck Jonathan
were good enough for him.
A presidency source said Buhari was said to
have informed the permanent secretary, “I
don't need any new cars. The ones I’m using
now are just fine.”
Buhari, however, welcomed other initiatives
presented by Emodi to reduce the running cost
of the State House and strengthen its finance
and accounts and internal control mechanisms.
He advised the permanent secretary that
greater effort must be made to capture all
State House overheads within the approved
federal budget to avoid the frequent recourse
by past administrations to presidential
intervention funds.
When contacted, Senior Special Assistant to the
President (Media & Publicity), Mallam Garba
Shehu confirmed that in keeping with his
commitment to prudence in the management
of national resources, Buhari will continue to
use the cars left behind by his predecessor and
has withheld approval for their replacement.
State House sources, who confided in THISDAY,
said the proposal to procure the new cars was
first presented to Jonathan before he left
office.
But the former president directed that it be
represented to Buhari for approval on his
assumption of office since the cars would have
been delivered some months after the May 29
handover date.

Source:www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dasuki-buhari-never-ordered-dismantling-of-military-checkpoints/214212/

Ok

I just they observe

story everywhere. and the bombing continues

Am more concerned about the policy somersault of this government. fuel has been selling above 87 and no one has come out to officially explain the rationale behind that. Mr president should understand there is an option of resignation if he ain't capable of ruling this country, no serious investor will risk his money in an auto-pilot country.

Which kind yeye and uncordinated govt b dis?....talk sometin 2day D9 d same tin 2mr....nawa oooo

INTROVERT:

Chairperson, Space Bookers Association of Nairaland(Nairaland) I hail u ma

QUACK JOURNALISM EVERYWHERE

This govt. is taking us as fools, why cnt they take a decision or direction and stick to it? This show of shame is becoming too much

this govt lie to deny their statements alot...Is it fear or what.....ok

Why all this confusing statements from the presidency? Today yes, tomorrow No, Next tomorrow Maybe. Sigh

I think it is time government have a single information outlet, atleast for government policies announcement. this say and deny attitude doesn't speak well of the government ad they seem uncordinatrf and without direction