Police authorities in Kano State and some security sources on Tuesday
gave different figures as casualties of the Monday suicide bomb blasts at an
inter-state commercial bus park in Sabon-Gari, Kano.
While the security sources, who were among those taking a tally of the victims, said the death toll had risen from 30 to about 75, the Kano State Police Command gave a much lower number of 22.
The blasts, which injured scores of passengers, drivers, hawkers and visitors, also destroyed five Marco polo luxury buses. A Marco polo bus belonging to Gobison Motors had on board over 70 passengers when it was attacked by the suicide bombers as it was about departing the ever-busy park for Lagos.
One of the security sources, who did not give his name because he was not permitted to do so, told our correspondent that the death toll was high because the luxury buses were parked close to one another since they were to move in convoy.
“The luxury buses always travel in convoy for security reasons and this was why the casualty figure was high. They were parked close to one another. Most passengers in the first bus which might have had at least 70 passengers, including those that were given seats called ‘attachment’, died,” he said.
The officer explained that each of the buses had about 75 or more passengers.
“One of the suicide bombers must have timed the attack because he drove into the park and attacked the first bus when the five buses were filled up and were about to drive out in convoy to Lagos and that was why he (bomber) achieved a heavy casualty rate,” he said.
But the Kano State Police Command which put the casualty at 22, said that 65 persons, mostly passengers were injured.
The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura, told journalists in Kano that the attack was executed by two suicide bombers, who rammed their vehicle against one of the luxury buses.
He said, “Two suicide bombers drove a blue Volkswagen Golf into the luxurious bus motor park along New Road, Sabon Gari. They attacked and hit a loaded bus belonging to Gobison Motors which was taking off to Lagos and sparked off a serious explosion,’’
He said this caused the bus to burst into flames which affected passengers, hawkers, traders and workers at the park.
Daura confirmed that five buses were burnt during the incident, adding that, ‘‘fire- fighters immediately raced to the scene and the flames were put under control after which the whole area was cordoned off.’’
The police commissioner said those who survived the attack were currently receiving medical attention in hospitals in the city, while many corpses were deposited in the morgue.
He urged residents of the troubled city to remain calm and go about their normal business, adding that security agencies were committed to the protection of lives and property.
Daura also confirmed the killing of a policewoman by suspected gunmen on Tuesday morning.
He said the victim, who was attached to Zone 1, Headquarters of the police, was attacked while replacing the flat tyre of her car.
Residents of new bus station in Sabon Gari on Monday night deserted the streets to avoid arrest by security personnel who took over the motor park area and surrounding streets shortly after the incident.
Findings showed that some of the residents even left their homes after the blasts which shook the buildings in the area to their foundations.
Intercity drivers and commercial bus operators also left the park with their vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has described the blasts as “callous , unwarranted and wicked.”
Moro, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, George Udoh , said he was pained when he heard the news of the killing of innocent Nigerians by persons suspected to be Boko Haram members.
The minister “reiterated the need for prominent Nigerians, student union , civil society and religious groups as well as traditional institutions and professional bodies to voice out their resentment against the evil being perpetrated by members of the inglorious sect on the nation.
While condoling with the families of the blast victims, and the government and people of Kano State, the minister promised that the Federal Government would smoke out the perpetrators and expose their sponsors.
Also, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, warned that Ndigbo would be forced to defend themselves from the killings in various parts of the North.
He added that the Igbo had been pushed to the wall by the Boko Haram, adding that the people would have no option but to defend themselves.
Uwazuruike said, “The killings and other senseless activities against Ndigbo must not continue . I know that it was this type of massacre that brought about the first civil war in Nigeria; I am disappointed in our people, when they were being slaughtered, I brought out buses to bring them back home, but they chose to remain in the North.
“What I did was to safeguard their lives. But I want to advise President Goodluck Jonathan that there is a limit to everything. Ndigbo can no longer continue to allow themselves to be senselessly killed in the North. I must warn that Ndigbo are not cowards; they will react if pushed to the wall.”
While the security sources, who were among those taking a tally of the victims, said the death toll had risen from 30 to about 75, the Kano State Police Command gave a much lower number of 22.
The blasts, which injured scores of passengers, drivers, hawkers and visitors, also destroyed five Marco polo luxury buses. A Marco polo bus belonging to Gobison Motors had on board over 70 passengers when it was attacked by the suicide bombers as it was about departing the ever-busy park for Lagos.
One of the security sources, who did not give his name because he was not permitted to do so, told our correspondent that the death toll was high because the luxury buses were parked close to one another since they were to move in convoy.
“The luxury buses always travel in convoy for security reasons and this was why the casualty figure was high. They were parked close to one another. Most passengers in the first bus which might have had at least 70 passengers, including those that were given seats called ‘attachment’, died,” he said.
The officer explained that each of the buses had about 75 or more passengers.
“One of the suicide bombers must have timed the attack because he drove into the park and attacked the first bus when the five buses were filled up and were about to drive out in convoy to Lagos and that was why he (bomber) achieved a heavy casualty rate,” he said.
But the Kano State Police Command which put the casualty at 22, said that 65 persons, mostly passengers were injured.
The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura, told journalists in Kano that the attack was executed by two suicide bombers, who rammed their vehicle against one of the luxury buses.
He said, “Two suicide bombers drove a blue Volkswagen Golf into the luxurious bus motor park along New Road, Sabon Gari. They attacked and hit a loaded bus belonging to Gobison Motors which was taking off to Lagos and sparked off a serious explosion,’’
He said this caused the bus to burst into flames which affected passengers, hawkers, traders and workers at the park.
Daura confirmed that five buses were burnt during the incident, adding that, ‘‘fire- fighters immediately raced to the scene and the flames were put under control after which the whole area was cordoned off.’’
The police commissioner said those who survived the attack were currently receiving medical attention in hospitals in the city, while many corpses were deposited in the morgue.
He urged residents of the troubled city to remain calm and go about their normal business, adding that security agencies were committed to the protection of lives and property.
Daura also confirmed the killing of a policewoman by suspected gunmen on Tuesday morning.
He said the victim, who was attached to Zone 1, Headquarters of the police, was attacked while replacing the flat tyre of her car.
Residents of new bus station in Sabon Gari on Monday night deserted the streets to avoid arrest by security personnel who took over the motor park area and surrounding streets shortly after the incident.
Findings showed that some of the residents even left their homes after the blasts which shook the buildings in the area to their foundations.
Intercity drivers and commercial bus operators also left the park with their vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has described the blasts as “callous , unwarranted and wicked.”
Moro, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, George Udoh , said he was pained when he heard the news of the killing of innocent Nigerians by persons suspected to be Boko Haram members.
The minister “reiterated the need for prominent Nigerians, student union , civil society and religious groups as well as traditional institutions and professional bodies to voice out their resentment against the evil being perpetrated by members of the inglorious sect on the nation.
While condoling with the families of the blast victims, and the government and people of Kano State, the minister promised that the Federal Government would smoke out the perpetrators and expose their sponsors.
Also, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, warned that Ndigbo would be forced to defend themselves from the killings in various parts of the North.
He added that the Igbo had been pushed to the wall by the Boko Haram, adding that the people would have no option but to defend themselves.
Uwazuruike said, “The killings and other senseless activities against Ndigbo must not continue . I know that it was this type of massacre that brought about the first civil war in Nigeria; I am disappointed in our people, when they were being slaughtered, I brought out buses to bring them back home, but they chose to remain in the North.
“What I did was to safeguard their lives. But I want to advise President Goodluck Jonathan that there is a limit to everything. Ndigbo can no longer continue to allow themselves to be senselessly killed in the North. I must warn that Ndigbo are not cowards; they will react if pushed to the wall.”
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Dear Uwazuruike,
ReplyDeleteYou've done your best by sending a bus crying for them to come back home, but they insisted not to, that simply means they're northerners and not your brothers, let them be !
What is happening is northern affirs, not our business sir. Save your breath sir!
Dear Dennis,
ReplyDeleteBut it is the business of all of us! A rotten apple affects the whole basket. We cannot keep quiet. Saying this is a Northern affair is very wrong. Those loosing their lives are not northerners alone, they are Nigerians. It is difficult to relocate without having planned it, and in a financially challenged country like ours too.
Let us pray and advocate for peace. We appeal to our leaders to cease concentrating on loading their accounts and attend to the security issues in the north and south south parts of the nation before it degenerates and breaks us up.
GEJ, stop playing puppet!!
@Dennis do u realise that the area bombed is a place with majority of non-indegenes? N though am not sure but its igbos dt do dis luxurious bus tin d most so it myt have affected them much more than any other ethnic group in Nigeria....just saying. @Uwazuruike pls ur promise of getting sumtin done about those beast gives me more hope than anytin even our president promised. Do sumtin before they turn themselves to be another god in this country!!! I second but pls no more shedding of innocent blood!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are waiting for ur order Sir Uwazurike.its time to fight for our freedom
ReplyDeleteJust like sir Uwasuruike said boko haram has pushed Igbos to the wall. I think it is high time we started to tell them ie northerners that we are not fools. That we are keeping quite doesn't mean that we don't know what to do, they are taking our leniency for granted. Since our president is incapable to control this manace, let's help him to do it. Igbos every where you are be vigilant because anything can happen @ any moment.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a heartless act,is high time gej should sit-up and act as a president cos this is gettin out control,each day we keep hearin bloody news from this same sect, the next thin government will do is to pay a vlueless conpensation why the innocent citizens are dieing like chicken
ReplyDeleteThe trumpet sounds,the war cry sounds,reataliation sounds,no victor no vanguish,na lie,just lyk d progrom of 1966 is it still happening again?
ReplyDeleteIt wll b devastating,all eyes are watching,UN&all international bodies,gruesome murder,premeditated murder,murder of the defendless Igbos. Mbosi anyi ya achu nu n'owele nchi.ndi ba anyi o ka ara m n'onu
It hurts me when ppl say northerners or muslims.The issue has passed that bcos if you look at this case for example,the passengers are not only Ibos or xtians.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile our national Oga is busy pardoning Rapists and pen Robbers bcos non of his reltions has been killed so far.Lets pray.