Jonathan releases statement over bloody Wednesday as 60 die in Kano, Kaduna

Blood flowed in Kano and Kaduna on Wednesday, leaving almost 60 people dead in both attacks.
The bomb explosion that rocked the Federal College of Education, Kano yesterday claimed the lives of 15 students and left 34 others seriously injured. The bomb, it was learnt, was thrown into a lecture hall.

An eyewitness said a lectures was going on when two terrorists walked in and threw two objects that exploded within seconds. The blast was followed by sporadic gun shots.  Some of the gunmen stationed outside the hall,opened fire on some of the students who tried to escape from the scene.

The incident occurred around 2.00pm at the school’s new site located at Gadon Kaya.

Suspected Fulani gunmen on the same day attacked three communities in Sanga Local Government Area, in the Southern  part of Kaduna State, killing 32 villagers, after killing  a soldier and injuring four other soldiers in an ambush. 

An eyewitness told Vanguard:“We  heard before now that Fulanis were planning to attack us again. They came last night around 1am, and attacked Fadan Karshi, Karshi Daji and Unguwan Ganye which were close to one another in Sanga LGA.

“They first ambushed a military patrol van that was crossing a bridge from Fadan Karshi to Karshi Daji. They fired at the soldiers and killed one, and four were injured. But  the soldiers repelled the attacks. The Fulani men then moved in three groups. One went to Fadan Karshi, where they killed 12 people, burnt down 20 houses and injured scores. They moved to Karshi Daji, killed 20 people and burnt down several houses. Those that attacked Unguwan Ganye are  still in the place, so we can not tell you the casualty figure now. But among those killed in Fadan Karshi was the wife of a very respectable retired clergyman, Rev. Jacob Aku. His wife was burnt to ashes in the attack.”

“We need serious protection and security from our government or we will be forced to protect ourselves”, he said.
In the Kano attack, security agents responded promptly, engaging the terrorists in a shoot-out and killing two of them.

The Kano Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba who addressed newsmen confirmed that “15 died, while 34 were injured”.

He disclosed that two among the dead were the attackers gunned down by his men. “We have recovered two AK-47 assault rifles from the assailants”, he said adding that the command has launched a massive manhunt to track down other fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the people of Kano State and all Nigerians that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to increase the capacity of the nation’s security services to prevent attacks on innocent citizens by terrorists.

Part of a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati reads: “President Jonathan commiserates with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.

“President Jonathan’s sympathies and best wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack.

“The President commends the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize resultant casualties.

“He urges them to be even more alert and proactive in the future to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.

“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”.