A bomb explosion inthe early hours ofSaturday rocked the Main Mosque at Hausa Quarters in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.


The incident, which was suspected to have been masterminded by a Boko Haram member, took place at about 5.10 a.m., leaving a victim identified as Tanko Buzu with high degree of injuries on the face and hands.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the victim was rushed to Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) where he was rejected and brought back to Sapele from where he was referred to University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

It was gathered that the victim was alone in the mosque at the time of the incident and that security agents were working on the theory that he was a Boko Haram member.

"We heard a loud bang at about 5.10 a.m. and when we rushed to the scene, we discovered Tanko writhing in pain. He was injured on the face and hands. He was then rushed to the hospital by members of the Hausa community," an eyewitness told Sunday Tribune.

A team of anti-bomb squad from the Delta State Police Command was seen in a jeep with registration number NPF 1770 C monitoring the scene, while journalists were prevented from accessing the place.

Sunday Tribune, however, got access to the scene of the incident when the state commissioner of police arrived the place at about 10.20 a.m. in a Toyota Camry saloon car with registration number Kano BB 863 KMC.

In a section of the Juma at Central Mosque, located at No 6 Hausa road, a hole dug on the floor by the impact of the blast was seen and ceilings of the mosque were shattered.

Sunday Tribune observed that the commissioner of police was briefed on the incident by the Seriki Hausawa Sapele, identified as Alhaji Suleiman Umaru, at the scene of the incident from where he left for Sapele Police Station.

A Mercedez Benz jeep carrying a top official of the State Security Service (SSS) in the state was also sighted at the scene.

The official, a woman accompanied by some aides, went in briefly to assess the scene and left shortly after.

It was gathered that undercover security agents were working on the theory that the victim might be a member of the Boko Haram sect and that he could be from Niger Republic.

There was apprehension in Sapele community with residents insinuating that members of the dreaded sect had infiltrated the town.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed the incident, but denied any bomb blast.

He said the command suspected it was fire that engulfed the mosque.


Bomb blast in Sapele mosque