A survivor in a hospital(left) and scenes of the Monday explosions in the Sabon Gari area of Kano...on Tuesday
| credits: AFP
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum and Afenifere on Tuesday spoke in one voice against Monday night’s multiple bomb blasts in Kano, Kano State.
Their criticisms came just as our correspondent in Kano gathered from hospital sources that death toll had risen to 23. Security operatives however put the casualty figure at 12.
In their separate reactions to the blasts in the Sabon Gari area of the city, they reminded the perpetrators who are believed to be members of Boko Haram that it was wrong for them to take innocemt lives.
The JNI, a group led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, said in a statement by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, that those behind the killings must be fished out and punished.
It said it was perplexed that terrorism had continued unabated in the North despite the number of unaccounted checkpoints by security operatives.
The statement reads in part, “JNI is worried and cannot understand what is really happening? The perpetrators should be fished out and punished in accordance with the laws of the land.
“While we send our condolences to the families of the bereaved , the government of Borno and Kano states, their Royal Highnesses, Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano, we once again call on all concerned to, as a matter of urgency, nip the attacks in the bud . As it is becoming more and more glaring to all right thinking persons, there is a grand design to push the entire North into deeper crises and by extension, the entire Nigerian federation.
“Therefore, we call on Muslims to fervently pray in Du’a(prayer) that will bring an end to these nagging nightmares of insecurity in our great country and may Allah, the Most High, save us from the enemies of peace and development and whosoever they may be, especially that we are in the most sacred month of Ramadan.”
To the ACF, the Kano blasts must be condemned by all right thinking persons because they amounted to a “desecration of the holy month of Ramadan.
The forum which is the foremost northern socio-political organisation, noted that the killing of innocent souls had no place in any religion.
The ACF, in a statement by its National Publcity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, added that violence could not solve any perceived grievances.
The body stressed the need for dialogue, saying it was the best way to address grievances.
It said, “We would never be tired of asking the perpetrators of violence to avail themselves the offer of dialogue by the Federal Government for the good of all. This is because there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence needed for the socio-economic development of this large country.
“The ACF is shocked and sad over the reports of four bomb explosions, which killed and wounded many people on Monday in Kano. This kind of killings of innocent people has no place in all religions and in decent societies. It amounts to desecration of the month of Ramadan. They should, therefore, be condemned by all those who cherish core values of humanity like freedom, justice and common decency.
“It is still the considered opinion of the ACF that violence can never resolve any perceived grievances, besides inflicting pains and self-immolation and destruction of innocent people.”
On its part, Afenifere called on the Federal Government to introduce tougher measures to curb the escalation of violent attacks by Boko-Haram, especially in Borno and Kano states.
Describing the attacks as “dreaded and brutal, “ the group warned that the arrest of 42 suspected members of the sect in Lagos and Ogun states indicated that deadlier attacks had yet to be unveiled.
A statement by the group on Tuesday, reads in part, “The escalation of violent campaigns by the Boko Haram in Borno and Kano states within 48 hours should be a rude awakening to the Federal Government that it should seek yet no repose.
“It appears to us in Afenifere that the government was being lured into some false sense of security so that the sect could re-strategise for more devastating attacks.
“The Army in Lagos paraded some suspected members of the sect, with a warning from the Directorate of State Security Service that deadlier attacks were on the way. This should be a signal to the government that it cannot afford to take a pacifist approach as sympathisers of the sect who had infiltrated the administration may be counselling.
“The military action that followed the bold move by the government led to a bomb holiday in the North-East, which has been the headquarters of insurgency.”
The group said the claim by the Chairman of the Boko Haram panel, Alhaji Taminu Turaki, that he had secured a ceasefire with the sect, proved that Turaki might be having something to do with the sect.
The group further asked the government to disband the committee, as it was not to be trusted.
But Turaki told State House correspondents in Abuja that the committee remained undeterred in the face of the renewed hostilities by Boko Haram.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan had granted the committee a 60-day extension to complete its assignment.
Turaki said, “ It’s really unfortunate that at this time when serious efforts are being made by the government through many fronts to make sure that these issues are sorted out, some people who do not wish this country well are trying to pull the hand of the clock backwards.
“But let me say on behalf of the committee on dialogue that we are undeterred. We will proceed with the discussions and by the special grace of God and by the prayers of all peace-loving Nigerians we will be able to conquer incidents like these.”
While statements by the JNI, ACF and Afenifere were being circulated, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and security agencies differed on the casualty figure in the latest explosions in Kano.
The military and police said 12 people died in the explosions believed to have been targeted at the Christians in the city, but the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said no fewer than 39 were killed and several others injured.
President of the group in Kano, Chief Michael Tobias Idika, told The PUNCH, he had confirmed that “at least 39 people” were killed in the explosions.
Idika said, “This is not something we like to celebrate; the truth is that at least 39 people were killed in the blasts.
“The terrorists invaded Sabon Gari, an enclave carved out for non-natives and planted Improvised Explosive Devices that exploded almost simultaneously on Enugu/Igbo Road, near International Hotel; and New Road, directly opposite the popular Ado Bayero Square, precisely at Nos. 38, 39, 40 and 41.
“At 41 New Road, the Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church was also bombed at the peak of an evening worship service. Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s account can confirm 39 deaths in New Road and Igbo/Enugu Road; and also unspecified number of people who got injured. Our team arrived at the scene in good time.”
But the Commissioner of Police , Kano State Command, in a statement on Tuesday, insisted that 12 people died in the explosions.
The command, in the statement by its spokesman, Magaji Majia, said, “Multiple explosions at Enugu/Igbo Road and New Road at about 2100 hours occurred at a Tavern known as Mary Cool and Zuma Cool Spot, respectively.
“As a result, 12 died on the spot, 12 injured and 19 vehicles parked at the scenes damaged. Corpses and the injured were taken to government hospitals in the state.”
Also, the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Kano, issued a statement on the attacks.
The statement by Captain Ikedichi Iweaha, spokesman for the Brigade reads in part, “At about 2105 hours July 29, 2013 , simultaneous explosions were triggered by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group between numbers 38 and 41 New Road and Igbo Road by Enugu Road all in the Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government Council of Kano State.
“Twelve persons were confirmed to have died from both incidents while a couple of others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospitals for medical attention.
“This latest incident could have been avoided if citizens have maintained vigilance when packages are dropped as it was in this case contrary to reports circulating in a section of the media of the attack being one by suicide bombers.”
Our correspondent however learnt on Tuesday that 23 corpses of victims of the blasts were deposited at the various government hospitals across Kano metropolis.
Most of the corpses were deposited at the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital mortuary. Six persons were being treated for various degrees of burns in the same hospital.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, in company with the Commander, 3 Motorised Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ilyasu Abba, and the State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Musa Daura, on Tuesday visited the Murtala Muhammed Hospital to commiserate with the victims of the bomb blasts.
