Multiple explosions rock Kano
There were serial bombings in different parts of Kano metropolis yesterday with Zone One of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters along BUK Road badly hit by a suicide bomber, killing at least three police officers. Other places affected include headquarters of the state police command Bompai and that of the State Security Service (SSS) at […]
There were serial bombings in different parts of Kano metropolis yesterday with Zone One of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters along BUK Road badly hit by a suicide bomber, killing at least three police officers. Other places affected include headquarters of the state police command Bompai and that of the State Security Service (SSS) at Giginyu, as well as three divisional police stations at Yar’akwa, Farm Centre and Sabon Gari. The Passport Office just adjacent to the Farm Center Police Station was not spared either with two Immigrations officers killed.
The Kano reporter of Channels TV, Mr. Enenche Akogwu, was also killed while attempting to film the burning police station at Farm Centre. At the time Kano government was announcing a 24-hour curfew, the official residence of the Assistant Inspector General of Police overseeing Kano Zone One of the Nigeria Police Force Bompai was said to be in flames. The residence was said to be one of the gunmen’s targets.
Yesterday’s attacks, which started around 4.40pm, were simultaneous, and which religious sect Boko Haram has claimed responsibility (see side-bar). The whole metropolis was thrown into pandemonium as residents ran helter-skelter for safety, with several individuals injured and windscreens of many vehicles smashed.
To immediately control the situation, the state government announced a 24-hour curfew and not long after the announcement, all the streets were deserted. An explosion, according to our findings, was first heard at Zone One HQ of the Nigeria Police Force along BUK Road when a suicide bomber forced himself into the premises killing three policemen instantly, before a Honda Civic car in which he drove into the place carrying explosives exploded after hitting a police tailoring unit. Several police personnel were injured and one civilian woman was also said to be killed in the attack. Eyewitness said the mutilated body of the bomber littered the place.
Explaining how the attack was launched, a victim who escaped unhurt, said a man in his Honda Civic car was at a junction directly facing the entrance to the headquarters and a traffic policeman who was stationed at the junction to control movement of vehicles was asking him if he was making a U-turn. The victim said he was amazed when the man quickly forced himself into the place and a mobile policeman nearby began to shoot at him but could not succeed as the man drove and crashed into one of the buildings. He said he saw three dead bodies, while about 11 persons were helped to the vehicle that was carrying injured persons to a nearby hospital.
The three policemen killed were immediately taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital while some of those injured were rushed to Al-Iman Hospital in Sharada for quick medical attention. It was gathered that the suicide bomber assigned to attack the headquarters of the state police command was not able to force himself into the premises as his vehicle only hit sand bags.
Weekly Trust learnt that the explosives the bomber was carrying in the car that hit the police shield detonated and the power of the explosion affected a lot of buildings around, including the police barracks just behind the command. After the explosion, there was an exchange of fire between the police and the attackers. Nobody was reported to have been killed during the Bompai attack.
The Yar’akwa police station along Zaria Road was said to have been set ablaze by the bombers. It was gathered that when the bombers arrived at the place they drove away the policemen on duty and set free all the detainees before they set the place ablaze.
The Farm Center attack was particularly bad, as a police station, Passport Office and an ever-busy GSM market around the place were affected. No policeman was said to have been killed but two Immigrations officers corpses could be seen. Several explosions and gunshots were heard while smoke billowed in the air for hours.
An orange-seller, who was at the scene of the incident, told Weekly Trust that he saw two men shoot down the officers, after which he took to his heels. According him, the gunmen did not mask their faces and soon afterwards, several explosions rocked the nearby police station.
Residents of Giginyu area where the SSS office is situated said they heard a series of explosions around the office, making them run for safety. It was learnt that a suspect was shot when he was trying to force himself into the place and the security personnel were said to have recovered an AK 47 rifle from him.
The Sabon Gari Divisional Police Office was also attacked, a development that caused stampedes because the incident took place there at a time when traders were closing shops. Police authorities could not speak on the situation as no officer, including spokesman of the state police command Magaji Musa Majiya, was able to respond to enquiries.