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13 People Confirmed Dead, 34 Injured as Gunmen Attack Hotel In Bauchi,

Published

10 years ago

June 28, 2014

Latest information coming in from Bauchi State, northern Nigeria, indicates that no fewer than thirteen people were killed and 34 injured when gunmen attacked a hotel in the state on Friday night.
According to the spokesperson of the police in the state, Haruna Mohammed, the incident took place at about 9:50pm on Friday, 27 June, 2014, at a brothel at Bayangari area.
The police boss also informed that the injured persons were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for treatment.
It was gathered that corpses of the dead were evacuated to the Mortuary.
“The entire surrounding has been cordoned and scene secure. No arrest has been made yet and investigation has commenced on the incident,” Mr. Mohammed said in a statement late Friday evening.
When newsmen visited the scene of the attack on Saturday morning, Military, police and Nigeria Red Cross personnel were already at the scene.
An eye-witness, Malam Ahmed Maidoki told NAN that five persons in military uniform carried out the attack by detonating explosives and shooting at random.
“We were just sitting down, watching highlights of the ongoing FIFA world cup at the viewing centre located in between the two story building of the hotel when five men dressed in military uniform strolled in.
“We thought they were security personnel, who came to relax as well. I noticed they all positioned themselves at the four corners of the hall.
“The next thing I heard was an explosion, after which the arena was covered with thick smoke. Shivering, my friends and I sprawled on the ground.
“We were trying to get out when the five men started shooting sporadically at any one who tried to stand up, and in the process, killing many of the survivors of the blast”, he said.
Another eye-witness, Usman Hassan, said he was just about to enter the hotel when the blast occurred and immediately ran away from the scene.
“As soon as I was a bit far from the scene, I heard gun-shots. Few minutes later, a white Toyota Hillux vehicle zoomed out of the hotel on high speed with men wearing army uniforms”, he said.
As at the time of compiling this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion believed to have been carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents.
It could be recalled that the Islamists terror group was also accused of being behind the bomb blast that rocked Emab Plaza in Abuja on Wednesday, 25 June, 2014.
The police had confirmed that no fewer than 21 people lost their lives in the explosion that eyewitnesses said happened around 9:15pm on Tuesday’s night.
President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namada Sambo had visited the scene of the bomb blast, both promising to ensure that the perpetrators of the evil act would be brought to face the law.