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Aftermath of Kano Bombing-185 suspects arrested -Mark, Tambuwal visit -Death toll rises to 186 -Emir leads prayers
The police in Kano were still battling yesterday to free themselves from the hangover of last Friday’s shock-and-awe attacks.
But they were strong enough to begin the difficult task of counting the dead. The toll: 186 so far.
On the casualty list are 29 policemen, three State Security Service (SSS) officers, two Immigration officers, one Customs officer, a journalist and 150 others.
Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris, in a statement, recounted the incident. He said a suicide bomber drove a car forcefully through the gates of the police zonal headquarters and detonated a bomb which destroyed part of the building.
Besides, said the police, 10 bomb-laden vehicles were found in the city, Nigeria’s second largest.
Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal visited to commiserate with the residents. The Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, led prayers for peace.
According to the police, who said 185 suspects had been arrested, “the same group of terrorists launched an attack at Farm Centre and Zaria road police division, Immigration Passport Office located at Farm Centre, SSS headquarters at Giginyu quarters, the official residence of the AIG Zone One and St. Louis Secondary School simultaneously.
“The command is made to inform the general public on the sad state of security and ugly incident of Friday 20th January, 2012. It was a day some extremists launched sporadic attacks with bombs and assault rifles in various parts of the state.”
The police said at the command headquarters in Bompai, two cars heavily loaded with explosive devices, apparently primed for suicide mission, were stopped. They said the first suicide bomber drove through the JFK end of Bompai Barracks when resisted by the officers on duty and detonated his bomb on the road when he could not access the barracks.
The statement added that the second vehicle – a Toyota Camry – was sporadically fired at by the police, ran into the wall and could not have access into the command headquarters. The driver was gunned down and the explosives demobilised.
The statement explained that the police recovered 10 vehicles including Honda CRV, Toyota Camry of various models, Honda Brahma, Golf, Toyota “First Lady” loaded with improvised explosive devices at places, such as Sheka Quarters, NNPC Mega filling station, Hotoro, Tishama Goron Dutse, Miller Road and Police Headquarters road, Bompai.
The police also recovered 300 Coca-Cola sized cans of improvised explosive devices at various locations in the city.
“Eight (8) Peak milk tins of 350kg loaded with improvised explosive devices, eight (8) drums sized of 350kg loaded improvised explosive devices loaded in cars in various locations in the city.
“The extremists attacked and brutally killed innocent civilian citizens who were going about their lawful business along Tudun Wada Road, Club Road, Cemetery Road, Abuja Yan Dusa, SDY Roundabout and St. Louis Avenue.”
The police also impounded two vehicles abandoned by suspected Boko Haram men. The police were on a stop-and-search yesterday and in two of the checkpoints, the Boko Haram members, on sighting the checkpoints, abandoned their vehicles and ran, a high-level police officer told Reuters, asking not to be named. “The vehicles were later checked and the cars were loaded with explosives. Two brand new Hilux open pick-up vans were also found packed with explosives in the Bompai area of Kano.”
SOURCE: The Nation, 24 January 2012. http://www.thenationonlineng.net
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