FCE Kano suicide bombing:Lecturer, infant, 13 students killed

Witnesses said the attackers arrived at the college’s new campus at the Kabuga area around 1.53pm, and first opened fire before two suicide bombers blew themselves up at two lecture halls packed with students.Hospital workers said 15 people as well as the 2 bombers were killed, while at least 34 others were injured.Witnesses said when […]

Witnesses said the attackers arrived at the college’s new campus at the Kabuga area around 1.53pm, and first opened fire before two suicide bombers blew themselves up at two lecture halls packed with students.
Hospital workers said 15 people as well as the 2 bombers were killed, while at least 34 others were injured.
Witnesses said when they arrived, the bombers headed straight to the two lecture halls were hundreds of students were taking lessons.
After firing sporadically, one of the bombers blew up himself at the new theatre hall while the other struck at the lecture hall of the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
Daily Trust learnt that the two bombers struck at about the same time, and as students and lecturers were fleeing to safety, other gunmen opened fire on them.
A senior lecturer, who saw the attackers as they entered the college premises, said: “When I heard gunshots, I peeped through the window of my office and I saw 3 men in black suits wielding AK-47 guns. They entered through the main entrance of the school and moved fast towards the lecture halls.
“The first man went into the new theatre and from my office I heard him shooting, like his other colleague who went towards the theatre of Arts and Social Sciences.
“I heard the first explosion from the new theatre hall and after few minutes, the other one blew up himself in the Arts and Social Sciences theatre.”
The lecturer said as the students were running away, the third man opened fire on them.
Daily Trust gathered that the insurgents went to the school in a tinted Prado SUV.
“They parked it near the gate and after the operation, the remaining attackers run back into it and drove away,” a witness said.
Speaking at the college premises, Kano State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Adenerele Shinaba, said the assailants entered the college after they were engaged in a gun duel by policemen at a checkpoint nearby.
He said 15 persons including the suicide bombers were killed and that 34 others were injured.
“So far, what we have is that 15 people are dead, including the two suicide bombers, and about 34 persons are injured. They are receiving treatment at the hospital,” he said.
Shinaba said they recovered two AK-47 rifles and some magazines from the attackers and that his men shot one of the gunmen while he was trying to escape.
“There is another one that was carrying AK-47 rifle and some explosives. When one of the security men shot him, the explosives in him exploded killing him alone,” he added.
But when our correspondents went to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital where the dead and injured were taken to, mortuary workers said 17 corpses had been deposited in the morgue.
“Initially they brought 16 bodies including that of the infant that was shot alongside her mother, but later they brought another body, making 17,” he said.
He said the corpses were of nine females and eight males, among them a senior lecturer who was also shot by the attackers.
Earlier at the college, there were reports that a Head of Department was among the dead but efforts to confirm this from the Provost, Dr. Rabi Jibrilla Mohammad, yielded no result as she said she was devastated by the attack.
At the hospital, there was rowdiness as hundreds of parents and relatives were seen shedding tears as they tried to locate their loved ones.
Many survivors of the violence were also seen with life-threatening injuries.
This was the third attack on higher institutions in Kano this year. The School of Hygiene was attacked on June 23, leaving at least 8 people dead, while a suicide bombing by a girl at the Kano State Polytechnic killed 6 people on July 30.
‘Sporadic shooting’
Later yesterday, the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja issued a statement in which it confirmed the attack and death of 15 people.
Spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said two armed men detonated explosives at the lecture hall of the college yesterday.
“Thereafter, they began sporadic shooting outside the premises. Police team from a nearby Tactical Operations Point responded and shot dead the two (2) insurgents.  Their AK 47 rifles were recovered,” he said.
“On examination of the scene of the explosion, fifteen (15) dead bodies were recovered, while thirty-four (34) injured were taken to hospital for treatment.”
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the people Kano over the attack, which he said was carried out by terrorists.
“President Jonathan’s sympathies and best wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack,” said a statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati.
“President Jonathan reassures the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government continues to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also condemned the FCE Kano attack, saying it was unfortunate.
ACF spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim, who spoke to Daily Trust in Kaduna, urged security forces to intensify surveillance, and called on insurgents to embrace dialogue.