Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, with heads of the army, police and Department of State Security (DSS) and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with Imams of mosques in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas in the state as well as district heads (Aja) and ward heads (Lawans) for a crucial security discussion aimed at developing fresh strategies to prevent recent tricks deployed by Boko Haram insurgents who attack worshippers at predawn prayers in mosques in Maiduguri.
This came as what could have been another major disaster was averted in the troubled Maiduguri yesterday as a vehicle conveying four suspected suicide bombers heading for the town accidental exploded before it could reach its destination.
Though the departure point of the vehicle could not be ascertained last night, all that was revealed was that it was eight kilometres away from Maiduguri before it suddenly exploded and went up in flame killing all the four occupiers suspected to be suicide bombers on a mission to Maiduguri.
The meeting which was held at the multi-purpose hall of the Government House, Maiduguri, was at the instance of Shettima and facilitated by the Shehu of Borno who is the spiritual and traditional head of the state. The General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian army in Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner and the Director of the DSS were in attendance along with other senior officers of security agencies.
Shettima told the participants that similar meetings will be held by the Emirs of Biu and Shani who will gather imams in local government areas that are not yet under attack in order not to take worshippers unawares.
The governor told the invitees that they were carefully selected because of the strategic leadership positions they occupy in their communities. He said while the Imams lead worshippers during congregational prayers and also head management of various mosques, ward heads are required to ensure that worshippers in every mosque across the over 30 wards in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas adhere strictly to the resolutions reached at the meeting in order to enhance community policing.
Shettima also said district heads who by tradition, coordinate and supervise the activities of ward heads under their territories, were invited to be part of the discussions so that they also ensure that ward heads under them comply with the security resolutions by overseeing Imams.
The Shehu of Borno, who also addressed the gathering said Shettima demonstrated wisdom in summoning the meeting, noting that every son and daughter of Borno has a role to play in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency that has left in its wake, deaths and destructions across the state.
Security representatives used the meeting to brief the participants on the importance of their collaboration and also educated them with useful security tips aimed at preventing further attacks on mosques. Metal detectors were handed over to some of the Imams which are to be deployed in searching worshippers. Undisclosed measures were also taken with all participants making commitments to the measures taken.
The meeting also provided avenue for the Imams, district and ward heads who spoke in local languages to raise issues of concerns they had on matters of security after which there was deep interactive between them and the security agents with deeper understanding achieved to enhance the commitment of all participants to the fight against insurgency.
In his opening address the state Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Usman Zannah, said Shettima sent out the invitation on Friday and it was based on the governor’s trust and faith in the Imams and other participants. He said the governor was committed to the safety of citizens in all the 27 local government areas in Borno State.
He said Shettima was pained the insurgents were determined to stop worshippers from exercising their freedom of practicing their religion mainly because the worshippers do not subscribe to the Boko Haram ideology.
Meanwhile, on the explosion, it was gathered that the explosion occurred on the highway around Njimtilo and apart from the four persons in the Volkswagen Golf car headed for Maiduguri from there was no other casualty.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent in a text message, the information officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the North-east, Mallam AbdulKadir Ibrahim, said “there was an aborted suicide bomb attack at Njimtilo today October 25, 2015.
“The four suicide bombers came in a car (Golf) around some minutes past 1:20pm. The car presumably exploded before they reached their target.
“All the four suicide bombers on board died. No innocent soul was lost. No other casualty was recorded. Their remains are deposited in the mortuary at Borno State Specialist Hospital.”
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