Islamic School Bombed In Sapele: Egbesu Fraternity Claim Responsibility

A Niger Delta militant group, the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity, has claimed responsibility for the explosion in an Arabic and Quaranic school in Sapele, Delta State, which injured seven people yesterday. 

The Ijaw militant group, which threatened more explosions, said in a statement that the incident was a reaction to continued Boko Haram killings in the North, climaxed last Sunday with the death of 50 worshippers in a Catholic church in Madalla, Niger State.

The statement, which indicated it was jointly signed by the group’s 'Revolutionary Council,’ said, ‘The Boko Haram killing will no longer be accepted and we are ready to equally kill any Muslim we see in southern Nigeria. 

We gave this warning since October this year that if Boko Haram will not stop killing any southerner, we will also kill until they (Boko Haram) feel uncomfortable before we will stop killing; because no part of this country is constitutionally empowered to kill any Nigerian.’

The group affirmed that, ‘The Sapele killing in Delta State yesterday night was carried out by us (Egbesu Mightier Fraternity); even the ones of Warri and Sapele on the 8th and 10th respectively was carried out by us. 

We will continue to kill until the number of souls been terminated by Boko Haram is completed before we will cease fire. 

 

‘We have warned time without number that they should leave the southern states immediately. 

 

We will not regret any soul that will go (for this) on the part of any Muslim in the south.’ 

 

They warned that ‘any southerner that speaks evil against us will be violently visited by us, because they too are in support of the killing of southerner by Boko Haram,’ adding, ‘This is our message.’

The explosion, which occurred barely two weeks after another one in Sapele Central Mosque in the state, happened at an Arabic and Quaranic school, only 100 meters away from the scene of the previous incident.  

At a press briefing yesterday in Asaba, the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Mamma Ibrahim Tsafe, who confirmed the incident, said the explosion was a high-powered object suspected to be a bomb. 

The police commissioner, who said security agents were on top of the incident, disclosed that six persons have been arrested and undergoing investigation.

While he regretted the growing insecurity in the country, the police boss pleaded with Deltans to go about their business as the security agents would do everything possible to protect the lives and property in the state.

He warned against use of fireworks by the youths in the state as the police would ensure the arrest of those found involved.

‘It is unfortunate that most fireworks have injured human beings and homes, and this is against the law; anybody found will face the law,’ he said. 

However, the state police spokesman, Charles Mouka, who spoke to Reuters, said: ‘It was thrown from an unidentified moving car … Six children and one adult were wounded. 

They are receiving treatment in the hospital. No deaths were recorded and no arrests have been made.’

The children are between five and eight years old, he said. They were in the school for night Arabic and Koranic lessons, said Mouka. 

According to him, the area around the school, which has about 50 students, has been cordoned off. 

‘We have swept it clean and recovered unexploded bits of the explosives for investigation. 

We are collaborating with other security agencies to ensure we do not have a repeat of the incident.’

Eyewitness, however, said the explosion, which occurred at about 9.00/9:30p.m yesterday, was initially mistaken for Christmas fireworks, but when residents realised its intensity, they scampered from the scene in fear. 

A visit to the scene showed bloodstains of victim-children on the ground, who were said to have been taken to the Sapele Central Hospital for treatment.

A parent of one of the victims, Zenaib Murtala, said the incident was shocking, adding that the explosion was unprecedented.  

She stated that it also portended a dangerous development for the country. 

Investigation also revealed that Muslim scholars in the community have been apprehensive with litany of reported bomb cases in the place, which has made them to adjust their prayer patterns.

Residents of the Niger Delta, especially Warri, Sapele and Ughelli, have reportedly become hedgy over fears of bomb explosions.