Two bombs exploded at the main store of the Disease Control Unit (epidemiological) of the Borno State Ministry of Health on Wednesday. Drugs, vaccines and other property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The bombs were suspected to have been planted by members of the Boko Haram sect.
The explosions occurred at about 7:30pm, setting the place on fire. The bombs were also said to have destroyed vaccines, drugs and property belonging to private business men in a nearby warehouse.
An eyewitness said he was sitting at about 7:30pm when he heard an explosion, saying that the stores went up in flames after the explosion.
When our correspondent visited the scene of the explosion yesterday morning, the stores were still burning while fire fighters were busy trying to put out the fire.
A trader whose store was also affected, Mohammed Mustapha, told our correspondent that he lost over N25 million worth of goods to the inferno.
He said: "The fire destroyed Chinese carpet, blanket, wrappers and other materials I kept in the store. It also destroyed the store of my neighbor who sells food stuff."
Our correspondent further learnt that another bomb also exploded in the Saint Patrick Catholic Church, opposite Borno State secretariat. The bomb uprooted electric poles and cables and destroyed the bishop's office.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred at about 3:05pm.
When our correspondent contacted the state police public relations officer, ASP Lawal Abdulahi, for confirmation, he said he was waiting for the DPO in charge of the area to brief him. He added that he would get back to newsmen in due course.
