Monday
was yet another bloody day in Kano as over 30 passengers,
drivers and visitors lost their lives to explosions at an
inter-state luxury bus park in the city.
was yet another bloody day in Kano as over 30 passengers,
drivers and visitors lost their lives to explosions at an
inter-state luxury bus park in the city.
Hours
before the blasts, an Islamic militant group, Boko Haram members laid
siege to some schools in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing four
teachers and injuring several others, including pupils.
before the blasts, an Islamic militant group, Boko Haram members laid
siege to some schools in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing four
teachers and injuring several others, including pupils.
The
cause of the Kano explosions which President Goodluck Jonathan described
as barbaric, was uncertain as of 8pm on Monday. While some eyewitnesses
attributed it to improvised explosive devices planted
in a luxury bus in the ever-busy park, others said it was
carried out by three suicide bombers.
cause of the Kano explosions which President Goodluck Jonathan described
as barbaric, was uncertain as of 8pm on Monday. While some eyewitnesses
attributed it to improvised explosive devices planted
in a luxury bus in the ever-busy park, others said it was
carried out by three suicide bombers.
They
were however, in agreement that the explosions also left many injured
and some buses destroyed in the park located in the Sabon
Gari, an area mostly inhabited by non-indigenes.
were however, in agreement that the explosions also left many injured
and some buses destroyed in the park located in the Sabon
Gari, an area mostly inhabited by non-indigenes.
Reuters correspondent at the scene said he counted
over 30 bodies that were affected by the explosions which occurred around
4.30pm. But one of the eyewitness put the casualty figure at
more than 60.
over 30 bodies that were affected by the explosions which occurred around
4.30pm. But one of the eyewitness put the casualty figure at
more than 60.
Chairman
of the Kano chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, said
records available to him showed that more than 60 persons died
and five luxury buses burnt.
of the Kano chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, said
records available to him showed that more than 60 persons died
and five luxury buses burnt.
“This
is the worst experience of the Igbo in Kano; we have lost over 60 souls,
while five buses were burnt to ashes . These show that we have always
been the target of the attacks.
is the worst experience of the Igbo in Kano; we have lost over 60 souls,
while five buses were burnt to ashes . These show that we have always
been the target of the attacks.
“IEDs were kept inside a luxurious bus which was about to leave Kano for Lagos.
“People
were flying like chickens here and you know there were so many
people in the bus when the IEDs exploded.”
were flying like chickens here and you know there were so many
people in the bus when the IEDs exploded.”
Another
eyewitness claimed that the bombers that carried out the attack had
arrived close to the park in a Volswagen Golf laden with explosives.
eyewitness claimed that the bombers that carried out the attack had
arrived close to the park in a Volswagen Golf laden with explosives.
He
said that as the 59-seater luxury bus was about to leave the park
on New Road garage, the bombers threw the devices into it.
said that as the 59-seater luxury bus was about to leave the park
on New Road garage, the bombers threw the devices into it.
The bus
was also said to be carrying about 49 other passengers on seats
called attachments.
was also said to be carrying about 49 other passengers on seats
called attachments.
Policemen,
operatives of the Joint Task Force and officials of the National Emergency
Management Agency who raced to the scene cordoned off the area.
operatives of the Joint Task Force and officials of the National Emergency
Management Agency who raced to the scene cordoned off the area.
They
were seen evacuating both the dead and injured victims to the Murtala
Muhammed Specialist Mortuary and hospital and other
facilities in the city.
were seen evacuating both the dead and injured victims to the Murtala
Muhammed Specialist Mortuary and hospital and other
facilities in the city.
NEMA’s
Public Relations Officer, Yushau Shuaib, said rescuers and security personnel
were yet to determine the source of the explosions and the casualty figure.
Public Relations Officer, Yushau Shuaib, said rescuers and security personnel
were yet to determine the source of the explosions and the casualty figure.
“Rescuers
and security personnel are still busy evacuating the wounded and taking the
dead bodies to mortuaries; we have yet to determine the casualty figure,”
he added in an SMS to one of our
correspondents.
and security personnel are still busy evacuating the wounded and taking the
dead bodies to mortuaries; we have yet to determine the casualty figure,”
he added in an SMS to one of our
correspondents.
Some
of the injured persons had their arms and limbs amputated due
to the impact of the explosions.
of the injured persons had their arms and limbs amputated due
to the impact of the explosions.
Residents
of the areas scampered for safety when they heard the blasts which led to
the abrupt closure of businesses in many parts of the city.
of the areas scampered for safety when they heard the blasts which led to
the abrupt closure of businesses in many parts of the city.
Reacting,
President Jonathan condemned the blasts, saying it would not stop his
administration from fighting terrorists.
President Jonathan condemned the blasts, saying it would not stop his
administration from fighting terrorists.
In a
statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,
Jonathan said the incident would not deter the Federal Government from
its determination to overcome those who did not mean well for the nation.
statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,
Jonathan said the incident would not deter the Federal Government from
its determination to overcome those who did not mean well for the nation.
He
added that the government would not be stampeded into abandoning what he
described as its unrelenting war against terrorists.
added that the government would not be stampeded into abandoning what he
described as its unrelenting war against terrorists.
The
statement read, “President Jonathan reassures Nigerians and foreigners in
the country that the Nigerian Government will continue to do all that is
required to ensure the safety of lives and property,including continued
collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders to check
the menace of terrorism.
statement read, “President Jonathan reassures Nigerians and foreigners in
the country that the Nigerian Government will continue to do all that is
required to ensure the safety of lives and property,including continued
collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders to check
the menace of terrorism.
“President
Jonathan commiserated with the victims of the Kano explosions, their families
and friends, and assured the Kano State government of the Federal Government’s
continued support.”
Jonathan commiserated with the victims of the Kano explosions, their families
and friends, and assured the Kano State government of the Federal Government’s
continued support.”
In
Maiduguri, virtually all the schools in the city were hastily shut as news of
the killing of four teachers and wounding of pupils in the city
spread.
Maiduguri, virtually all the schools in the city were hastily shut as news of
the killing of four teachers and wounding of pupils in the city
spread.
Source: Punch
