The Islamist militant sect Boko Haram today attacked two police stations in Sokoto metropolis by Suicide bombers. At first a suicide bomber driving a bomb rigged car attacked the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in the city at Marina killing a police officer and injuring several others.
The Unguwar Rogo Police station was also bombed by another suicide bomber in the metropolis. The number of casualties in the second attack is unknown as at the time of publishing this report.
However, following the earlier news of explosions including a suicide blast which rocked two police stations on Monday in northwestern city of Sokoto, the historic seat of Islam in the country, police and residents said.
The Boko Haram Islamists, responsible for scores of deadly bombings in recent months, are suspected of having hideouts in Sokoto, but the group has rarely attacked within the city.
A senior police officer, who requested anonymity, said a suicide bomber approached the Yan Marina police station in the centre of the city in a car packed with explosives. The bomber was denied entry at the security gate, where the vehicle blew up, according to the officer.
A resident near the station, Usman Bube, said the area was “engulfed in flames.”
“There was a huge explosion about an hour ago at the police station that was followed by thick smoke,” Bube told AFP. “It is so chaotic now, with people running to safety.”
Lawai Danfili, another resident, reported the second blast near Sokoto’s Unguwar Rogo station.
“We had a loud explosion around the police station. The impact of the explosion shook houses in the area. We all moved indoors,” he said.
There was no immediate report on casualties.
