Residents panic over bomb explosion in Taraba

Residents of Jalingo, Taraba State, are still in panic mode following a bomb explosion that rocked part of the state capital Sunday night.

Although Taraba is located in the North-East, a region considered the epicentre of terrorism in the country, the state is relatively found to be peaceful compared with Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

The Sunday’s explosion reportedly occurred around 10pm close to First Roundabout leading to the Taraba State University.

The explosion caused damage to some shops and residential buildings in the area, according to Channels TV reports.

Eyewitnesses claimed the bomb was behind a local pub.

An eyewitness said, “A little baby of about four years was at the shop sleeping when the wall collapsed.

“Luckily, she survived it and is receiving medical attention at a hospital.”

Residents have expressed fears over what could befall them again, saying Sunday’s incident was the fourth in the chain of explosions that have rocked the state since the beginning of the year.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Taraba, Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Monday morning.

He said the command’s anti-bomb squad was deployed in the area, and that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

He said, “No casualty, nobody sustained injury.

“It was a blast. Last night, the anti-bomb was there. We are waiting for the result.”

In April, several people were injured following an explosion in Nukkai area of Jalingo.

Days earlier, six persons were killed and several other persons injured in an explosion that occurred in Iware community in the state.

In addition to the explosions, communities in Taraba have come under attack in recent weeks, with killings and abductions recorded.

On April 11, gunmen attacked a mosque in Maisamari community in Sardauna LGA of Taraba and killed Abdulkadir Sufiyanu, the district head.

Before the attack on the mosque in Maisamari, some residents were kidnapped when gunmen invaded a mosque in Bali Jali village of the state.

Muslim worshippers were breaking their fast when the attack in Bali Jali occurred.

In May, six soldiers were killed in an attack by gunmen on Tati village in Takum LGA of the state.