RED ALERT: BOKO HARAM NOW IN LAGOS

RED ALERT:

BOKO HARAM NOW IN LAGOS

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

The dreaded Islamist terror group, Boko Haram are now said to have effectively kick started its project of theocracy within the South West axis by a recent bomb explosion in Apapa,Lagos.

In an exclusive investigation by Paedia Express Multimedia in Lagos, Nigeria ,it was discovered that the recent gas explosions in the area was more serious than the press had actually reported.

This reporter learnt that three people among whom were two bearded men and a woman all dressed up in an unmistakable Islamic dressing were involved in the attack in a Sienna vehicle.

The source told this reporter that  the trio had arrived at the scene of the incident in the afternoon and began what later was discovered to be a surveillance operation before packing the Sienna in front of Folawiyo Energy

His words:”They came in a Sienna and were three in number with two of them looking like bearded mullah and were dressed in Islamic regalia,the third  was a female adorned in a hijab”

“They had been moving around the area on surveillance all day ,so they then packed there car in front of our  gas depot at Folawiyo Energy at Creek Road in Apapa,Lagos”

“The lady then went to one of the people selling food in front of our depot where you will usually have a long queue of trucks coming in to transact business with us,she started to eat food and in the process she suddenly got a phone call and at this she hurriedly finished her food and paid for it and took to her heels”

“some of the people watching were surprised at what may have pushed her into such a frenzy ,then she made an attempt to enter into our compound where we have gas storage tanks as she most probably had the intention of doing this so as to create a maximum impact of the ensuing explosions any time the bomb goes off as she was wired to her body”

“We have a very strong detachment of members of the Nigerian Police ,24 of them are usually on duty aside from other private security arrangements but this people tried to prevent her from gaining an entry”

“she then went under one of the trucks to escape and possibly gain an access but this did not work out as well  and as they were trying to stop her from causing havoc she tried to fling her bomb wired device inside her body into our compound where it can connect with the fumes of our gas storage tanks and at this the explosion went off”

According to the source there were several bodies without heads,several heads without body and a lot of human parts littering the scene of the twin blast due to a lot of people who got caught up in the melee.

Paedia Express was told that three minutes after the initial blast the second and final one then went off to the horror of residents as the Sienna that was packed in front of Folawiyo Energy went off with one of the bearded men inside dying by suicide while the third in the evil gang escaped.

The source revealed that as at press time,a lot of the victims that survived by the whiskers were still in various hospitals within the Apapa environs recovering from varying degree of injuries sustained during the unfortunate incident. While some are  believed to have died in the hospital due to the severity of there injuries.

The source explained that he was surprised that the media did not report the real story but quickly added that he later heard that if Insurance companies knew a person or group of corporate concerns lost something due to a terrorist attack they will not pay any form of compensation to those affected.

The female suicide bomber was described as an extremely beautiful woman who may have been a Shuwa Arab or Hausa Fulani judging from the description of her identity by the source.

Not certain of the actual cause of  the recent  twin explosions in Apapa, Lagos, police forensic experts, who are already investigating the blast are yet to rule out bomb explosion.

This is just as it was gathered that the anti-bomb operatives who stormed the scene of the blast  the recently  to take the debris for forensic examination, had begun post-blast investigations to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

The forensic team had earlier encountered some hitches as security operatives attached to the Folawiyo Energy Limited (FEL), the tank farm, refused to allow men of the anti-bomb department access to the FEL premises.

The initial police explanation that the explosion was caused by gas cylinders and not bombs, further fuelled the suspicion of the anti-bomb disposal unit who were keen on establishing why and how a cylinder exploded around a petrol depot.

It was  gathered that the first thing the forensic experts set out to do was to look for the remains of the gas cylinders.

Although it was yet unclear if they succeeded in finding the cylinders that allegedly caused the blast, sources said its discovery would lead to uncovering whether the explosions were caused by bombs or whether it was triggered by faulty appliances.

While stressing that the Explosives Ordinance Depot (EOD) of the Lagos Police Command was yet to rule out the incident being a bomb explosion, the source told the press  that investigations had begun.

The source said: "We are yet to rule the incident out because certain factors must be cross-checked. Do not forget that gas is a major component of explosives.

"It is the gas that even makes the explosions worse because of the fragmentation in the gas. It would take EOD experts to ascertain what truly happened in this case.

"Because of the extent of the blast, the gas might have been used to fuel car air conditioning systems because gas makes a bigger effect. You can never underestimate the effect of gas.

"When our men are taken to the range for periodic training exercises, we are often set to task to construct a local bomb and we often use gas to make the effect louder."

He added: "We don't want to incite panic among residents of Lagos unnecessarily and that is why we are taking time to investigate. During investigations, if we see residue of explosives, we can then conclude.

"It is this post-blast investigation which would reveal if the components have explosive substances because the explosion might have been caused by carelessness in handling of the gas."

The management of FEL had denied that the explosion had nothing to do with their premises, claiming that the blast occurred around 200 metres away from the premises.

An official of the company had earlier told the press  that there was a “trailer spark” in the premises.

However  it was confirmed that while there was an explosion within the FEL premises, which claimed a life, there was another explosion on the opposite side of the depot, which claimed three lives.

The twin explosions had occurred first at Folawiyo Depot before it happened five minutes later at Alex Junction, killing four persons including a food vendor it was initially believed before now.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was at the scene, said the explosion was caused by fuel-laden tanker and not a bomb as alleged.

Braide, who spoke after she was allowed entry into the depot said: “I may not be able to tell you the number of people that died but I will be coming up with a statement later. We have commenced investigation. In cases like this, you just do not go and be making statements up and down.

“After the investigation, we will come up with what transpired and make it known to the press. We don't know if the tank farm explosion was linked to that of the car.

“There is nothing whatsoever suggesting that it was a bomb explosion. It was a tanker loaded with fuel that bursted into flames. Policemen are on ground there now and we cannot yet ascertain the casualty figures. But everything is under control."

Braide's statement conflicted with reports from the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who later said it was too early to conclude if the explosion was a blast or not.

Manko said: "We don't want to create unnecessary tension for now but note that the EOD have begun investigations. If it is a bomb, we will begin enlightenment campaign to create awareness on ways to identify these people.