Bomb scare: Nigerian Soldiers Raid Mosques In Aba

Nigerian  soldiers yesterday raided mosques in Aba, Abia State after it was alleged that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was kept in one of the mosques.

Although it could not be confirmed whether the soldiers found any suspicious object

 The Nation  Newspaper learnt that seven persons, including the Chief Imam of the Aba Central Mosque, Alhaji Idris Bashir, were arrested and taken to a yet-to-be-identified military base.

A source said the soldiers, who arrived the Aba Central Mosque in seven Hilux vans and cordoned off the place about 2am, carried out a search and left the mosque with the chief imam.

Other mosques were also searched.

A spokesman for the Muslim community, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, told reporters that the Central Mosque and other mosques were raided and some of their leaders allegedly arrested by people in army uniform.

He alleged that after the search, the suspected soldiers left with bags containing the chemicals used by pupils for practical in a school on the premises of a mosque.

His words: “About 2am, one of my brothers, Alhaji Bala Dawra, called me, asking if I was aware of what was happening in Aba Central Mosque. When I asked him what happened, he said soldiers had taken over the mosque. I called another brother, whose name I don’t want to mention. He also told me the same thing. He said the chief imam told him that soldiers had taken over the mosque. He said they searched the mosque and left with the chief imam, his deputy and a youth corps member posted there. Till now, we have not got confirmation, but some of our brothers, who witnessed the incident, said the soldiers came in seven Hilux vans.

“Another information reaching me has it that the soldiers also went to a mosque at the onions market at Uratta, searched the place, but they didn’t see the Imam. They took the phones of our brothers at the market and whisked away the chairman of the onion market union and his secretary. That was about 3am.

“We also learnt that the soldiers went to the yam market, searched the place, but were unable to get anything. They, however, went away with the chairman of the yam sellers. The Sarki of Ogbor Hill was also arrested by the soldiers when they carried out a similar operation in the area.

“I appeal to the soldiers to release our people unconditionally. Bomb was not planted anywhere in Aba. It was only a scare. Since the rise in insecurity in the country, we have been vigilant. We have been living in peace with our Christian brothers.”