By Ismail M. Kabir
Followinng the terror attack yesterday (Monday, April 27th 2015) by unknown gunment on Tao FM, Ebira sole electronic media house located on Ogidi lane, Kuroko in Adavi LGA of Kogi state, four people including two security guards, an in-house engineer and a carpenter were killed.
The assaialant then detonated an explosive devide that shook the buiilding housing the radio station to its foundation. The impact of the bomblast which occured around the hour of 8:00PM was felt across Kuroko community and beyond.
(Click here to see photos of the aftermath of the attack)
Residents in the area fled in various direction as the attackers were said to be shooting sporadically even in the midst of the loud blast. Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the attack this morning, the general manager of the radio station, Dr. Halima Salihu berated the unprovoked attack on the station.
Dr. Halima told reporters that neither the content of their broadcast nor the reactions from the teeming public could warrant such attack as the station was renowned for its dedication to ethical broadcast and frequent call for unity and harmonious coexiestence of the people in Kogi central senatorial district.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ogunjemilusi, who confirmed the incident, however said that he could not confirm the number of casualties at the time. He stated that there was dynamite explosion on the part of the building housing the station.
An eye witness who would not mant his name mentioned told EbiraView that at "about 8:00PM while most of the staff of the station have closed for the day, a white Hilux Truck without a number plate sped into the Ogidi lane where the FM Station is situated".
"Few minutes later, we heard sporadic gunshots which prompted all of us at a nearby joint to lay flat. In the next few seconds, we heard a loud bang that vibrated through the whole community and they continued shooting", he narrated.
The attack which lasted about thirty minutes left about five people dead. The two security guard among the victims are said to be elderly men who man the gate to the station while the carpenter was oh his first day at work.
The entire Ebira community was thrown into a rude shock as people wailed and cursed the perpatrators. Families and friends called from within and outside the country to sympathise with the staff and management of the station and the family of the victims.
People have been thronging the attack scence to assess the level of damage to the station. In a swift reaction to the ungly incidence, the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC) staged a peaceful protest to express their condemnation of what they describe as "a corwardly attack on Ebira people".
The protest was led by the National president of the congress, Comrade Mamman Sheikh who led the mamoth crowd to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (DR.) Ado Ibrahim.
Comrade Mamman delivered a press statement, informing the Ebira general public to shame the enemy by ensuring that the radio station gets back to work in given the emotional attachment of the Ebira people to the Radio station.
" We urge all Anebira to rise with all legal means available to them to investigate this attack and bring the perpatrators to book."
"To shame the enemy, we urge Tao FM to open an account for the immediate resuscitation of the radio. And we hereby appeal to all youth of Ebiraland to make contributions to it as a show of our resolve to defeat the enemy"/
The Ohinoyi, HRM Ado Ibrahim condemned the attack in strong terms while assuring the protesters that adequate investigation will be conducted to unravel the cuplprits and bring them to justice. He, however appealed for calm to allow the security agents carry out their investigation.
As at the time EbiraView visted the scene, a team of engineers have arrived the station to assess the damage and commence instant repairs to enable the station get back on air.
The management of the station is hopeful that the station will resume its broadcast in no distant time since there was no damage to the transmitters and other broadcasting equipment at the station.
Security agents have since been deployed to the scene of the attack as more people arrive from far and near for a first hand view of the damage to their darling radio station.
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| The Radio station after the attack |
The assaialant then detonated an explosive devide that shook the buiilding housing the radio station to its foundation. The impact of the bomblast which occured around the hour of 8:00PM was felt across Kuroko community and beyond.
(Click here to see photos of the aftermath of the attack)
Residents in the area fled in various direction as the attackers were said to be shooting sporadically even in the midst of the loud blast. Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the attack this morning, the general manager of the radio station, Dr. Halima Salihu berated the unprovoked attack on the station.
Dr. Halima told reporters that neither the content of their broadcast nor the reactions from the teeming public could warrant such attack as the station was renowned for its dedication to ethical broadcast and frequent call for unity and harmonious coexiestence of the people in Kogi central senatorial district.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ogunjemilusi, who confirmed the incident, however said that he could not confirm the number of casualties at the time. He stated that there was dynamite explosion on the part of the building housing the station.
An eye witness who would not mant his name mentioned told EbiraView that at "about 8:00PM while most of the staff of the station have closed for the day, a white Hilux Truck without a number plate sped into the Ogidi lane where the FM Station is situated".
"Few minutes later, we heard sporadic gunshots which prompted all of us at a nearby joint to lay flat. In the next few seconds, we heard a loud bang that vibrated through the whole community and they continued shooting", he narrated.
The attack which lasted about thirty minutes left about five people dead. The two security guard among the victims are said to be elderly men who man the gate to the station while the carpenter was oh his first day at work.
The entire Ebira community was thrown into a rude shock as people wailed and cursed the perpatrators. Families and friends called from within and outside the country to sympathise with the staff and management of the station and the family of the victims.
People have been thronging the attack scence to assess the level of damage to the station. In a swift reaction to the ungly incidence, the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC) staged a peaceful protest to express their condemnation of what they describe as "a corwardly attack on Ebira people".
The protest was led by the National president of the congress, Comrade Mamman Sheikh who led the mamoth crowd to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (DR.) Ado Ibrahim.
Comrade Mamman delivered a press statement, informing the Ebira general public to shame the enemy by ensuring that the radio station gets back to work in given the emotional attachment of the Ebira people to the Radio station.
" We urge all Anebira to rise with all legal means available to them to investigate this attack and bring the perpatrators to book."
"To shame the enemy, we urge Tao FM to open an account for the immediate resuscitation of the radio. And we hereby appeal to all youth of Ebiraland to make contributions to it as a show of our resolve to defeat the enemy"/
The Ohinoyi, HRM Ado Ibrahim condemned the attack in strong terms while assuring the protesters that adequate investigation will be conducted to unravel the cuplprits and bring them to justice. He, however appealed for calm to allow the security agents carry out their investigation.
As at the time EbiraView visted the scene, a team of engineers have arrived the station to assess the damage and commence instant repairs to enable the station get back on air.
The management of the station is hopeful that the station will resume its broadcast in no distant time since there was no damage to the transmitters and other broadcasting equipment at the station.
Security agents have since been deployed to the scene of the attack as more people arrive from far and near for a first hand view of the damage to their darling radio station.
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