Gunmen hit Sambo’s home

Vice President Namadi Sambo

-One dead, two policemen injured -Suicide bombs rock Sokoto

The violence in some parts of the North has failed to subside, despite the government’s battle to stem the tide.
Vice President Namadi Sambo’s family home in Tudun Wada, Zaria, Kaduna State, was yesterday attacked by unknown gunmen, who injured two policemen and killed a cobbler. 
In Kano, the police said they foiled an attack on a mosque in Jamblo Quarters and killed four gunmen Sunday night.
Bombs went off simultanously in two places in Sokoto, the seat of the Sultan, who is the head of the Moslems. 
The VP’s family house, which is not inhabited, was razed down during the post-election violence that engulfed the state last year. Renovation has just begun on it.
The three gunmen, who were said to have ridden to the residence on a motor bike, reportedly shot at the policemen. They killed a cobbler who was said to be polishing the shoes of one of them.
One of the policemen was said to have been shot in the leg; the other sustained gunshot injury on the hand. They have been admitted at the Ahamdu Bello University Teaching Hospital.
It was gathered that the gunmen came to the Vice President’s residence at about 11:00am and opened fire on the unsuspecting riot policemen and the cobbler.
A source said: “The three gunmen who were on the bike stormed the house located at Tudun-Wada area of the city and opened fire at the policemen guarding the house.  The cobbler was actually shinning the shoes belonging to one of the policemen, when they came.”
Acting police spokesman Abubakar Balteh said the cobbler died on the spot from a bullet following the exchange of fire between the police and their attackers.”
DSP Balteh said the three gunmen stormed the house which is under construction, opened fire on the policemen guarding the place, but were repelled.
“Yes, there was an attack. But the house is under construction. The policemen are guarding the house. A cobbler was killed by a stray bullet as a result of the exchange of fire between the three gunmen and the police. The cobbler died while one of the policemen was shot in the leg.”
Security has been beefed up in the area, with a combined team of heavily armed policemen and military personnel drafted to maintain law and order.
In the Kano incident, the police said they foiled an attack on a mosque in Jamblo Quarters and killed four gunmen on Sunday night.
On arrival at the mosque with a vehicle, laden with explosives, the gunmen, the police said, embarked on a failed attempt to dismantle the protective barrier around the mosque.
 An eyewitness account said they made a futile effort because the bomb they were carrying suddenly exploded, resulting in the instant death of one of the gunmen.
The men later engaged the police in a gun battle at about 8.45 pm during a congregational prayer after breaking the day’s fast on Sunday night.
At the end of the gun battle, which lasted about 20 minutes, the police subdued the gunmen, killing four of them.
Kano State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris said the police is in firm control of the area.
He said bomb experts drafted to the scene of the bloody clash with Boko Haram members recovered assorted weapons abandoned by them.
A statement yesterday by the command’s Public Relations Department said 10 live Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) abandoned after the Janbulo attack in  the university town of Kabuga, were recovered. The area was mopped up by the bomb disposal unit. 
Idris said: “Officers of the Command’s Anti-bomb Squad combed the entire area and also recovered 10 undetonated explosives.” 
The statement reads: “The Kano State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that on July 29, 2012 at about 20:30hrs, unknown gunmen on three motorcycles attacked a patrol team stationed at Gate II at the Jamblock Estate in Rigiya Zaki.
“The Police patrol team responded appropriately following which a gun battle ensued, three of the attackers were gunned down by the Police while the other two died from explosives they were carrying, one of them was burnt beyond recognition. 
“The Command reiterates its call to members of the public, especially the Muslim community, to use this holy month to pray for peace and stability of the state and the nation as the command would continue to intensify its campaign towards the protection of lives and properties of peace loving citizens.”