…Bomb Blast Kills 2, …46 Missing After Night Raid, …Nigerian Atheist Freed, …Security Forces Free 36 Kidnap Hostages, and more
Bomb Blast Kills 2, Injures 2 at School in Nigeria
A bomb explosion at an Islamic school in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, killed two people and injured two others on Monday, according to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the explosion happened around 11:00 a.m. GMT when three visitors allegedly brought an improvised explosive device (IED) to the school.
“Tragically, two of the men died in the explosion while tampering with the improvised explosive device (IED), on the school veranda, while the third man and a female trader sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment under police guard,” she said as quoted by Voice of Nigeria.
The FCT Bomb Squad confirmed the explosion was caused by an IED, and remnants of the device were recovered. The school’s owner is in police custody for questioning as preliminary investigations revealed that the three men had visited him.
46 Missing After Night Raid by Armed Gunmen in Nigeria
At least 46 people, including women and children, were kidnapped in a raid on Gana town in northwest Nigeria’s Zamfara state late Sunday, according to residents and local leaders who spoke to Reuters. Armed assailants on motorbikes attacked the community around 10 p.m. GMT, setting homes and businesses ablaze.
Alhaji Garba Haure, a traditional leader in Gana, credited government security forces for preventing further destruction. “We have 46 men, women, and children that have been abducted altogether, and still counting,” he said.
Another resident, Yusuf Mohammed, reported that dozens of houses and food storage silos were burned. Bala Harauma, another resident, noted that six individuals escaped during the abduction, adding that the actual count of abducted persons could be higher.
Nigerian Atheist Freed After 4 Years in Prison for Blasphemy
Mubarak Bala, a prominent Nigerian humanist and atheist, has been released after spending nearly four-and-a-half years in prison for blasphemy. His case, which drew international attention, stemmed from social media posts critical of Islam, Allah, and Prophet Mohammed, sparking outrage among Muslims.
Initially sentenced to 24 years by a Kano High Court in 2022, Bala’s punishment was reduced to five years in May 2023 after an appellate court deemed it excessive. He had pleaded guilty to protect himself and others linked to his case.
Speaking to the BBC after his release, he said: “I believe that what I did then was saving not only my life but people in the state and especially those that were attached to my case.” Though he now walks free, Bala remains in a secure location due to ongoing threats.
Security Forces Free 36 Kidnap Hostages in Sokoto
Thirty-six kidnap victims were reportedly rescued on Monday during a joint operation by security forces in Sokoto State’s eastern region. The victims, abducted from communities in Sokoto and Zamfara states, were found in a forest in Sokoto’s Isa village.
According to Trust TV, Surajo Isa, a local resident, counted 36 rescued victims and saw two bodies brought into Isa town. “I believe many bandits were neutralized during the operation,” Isa added.
Colonel Ahmed Usman (retired), Special Adviser on Security Matters to Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, confirmed the rescue but said he had not received full details. Information on the victims’ conditions was not immediately available.
—What’s News Today January 8, 2025, compiled by Ezinwanne Onwuka for TruthNigeria.
