Fresh explosion rocks Maiduguri, as fire guts Falomo police barracks

By NDAHI MARAMA & Evelyn Usman
ANOTHER explosion,  Sunday, rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The incident, Vanguard  learnt, took place at one of the roads to the main Maiduguri Monday market at about 2pm, barely two hours before the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubbakar Elkanemi, hosted prominent citizens of the state to mark the Eid- El Maulud festivity in his palace.
Meanwhile in Lagos, Falomo Police barracks in Lagos, yesterday, went up in flames destroying property which monetary value could not be immediately ascertained.
The cause of the fire which started at about 7pm could not be immediately ascertained, but report said it started from one of the apartments on Block 2.
The Maiduguri explosion, it was gathered shook the entire area, which led to businessmen closing their shops before the normal closing hours of 5pm.
Confirming the incident, the Joint Task Force Field Operation Commander, Col. Victor Ebhaleme said, “an Improvised Explosive Device, suspected to have been planted by some members of the Boko Harm sect exploded on the one- way of the Popular Monday Market Road, but no casualty was recorded.”
At the fire in Falomo, several persons were reportedly injured in the resultant stampede. Efforts by the occupants to contain the fire from spreading to other apartments proved abortive.
Reports said the entire residents of the barracks were thrown into panic as those affected battled to salvage their belongings.
It could, however, not be ascertained how many apartments were affected in the block as at press time. The fire, it was gathered, was put out at about 8.20pm.
Contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Jayeoba, said the fire was eventually put out by fire fighters, who were contacted, clarifying that it did not spread beyond block 2.