There was pandemonium along the Gida Murtala-BUK Road in Kano
on Monday when an improvised explosive device went off in the School of Hygiene
Technology, killing eight people.
About 20 others were critically injured and eight vehicles badly damaged
in the incident that was said to have been caused by a suicide bomber.
Most of the victims were freshmen rushing to meet the deadline to
register for the new academic session.
It was learnt that the injured were taken from the scene,
which was immediately cordoned off by security operatives, to an undisclosed
public health facility in the city.
A teacher however told the Agence France Presse that
the blast originated from a car park, near the college in the Sabo
Kofar area of the city.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, and
the spokesman, Magaji Majiya, confirmed that eight people died in
the explosion.
Shinaba, however, told journalists shortly after visiting the scene
that 12 persons were injured in the explosion which occurred at
about 2.05 pm.
He said, ‘‘There was an explosion in the school this (Monday) afternoon
and it happened right inside the school premises.
‘‘I want to confirm to you that 20 people were moved to the hospital,
but eight were confirmed dead and 12 others injured.’’
The commissioner, who linked the blast to suicide bomber, also said one
suspect arrested in connection with the blast was undergoing
interrogation at the state police command headquarters.
He said, ‘‘The suspect is in our custody and we will get to know the
motive behind the attack and who sent him on this deadly errand.
“Every lead seems to point at suicide bombing. Unlike our previous
experience, none of the vehicles parked inside this school caught fire and
there is no hole around to suggest a car bombing, but all leads are still open
for investigation.”
The Public Relations Officer of the school, Mallam Muhammad, said the
mangled bodies of victims were packed in cellophane bags and taken
to a government hospital.
He said, “It was a terrible sight to behold when we came for rescue
operation.
“We were conducting the screening of our intakes when a suicide bomber
penetrated the orderly queue and blew himself and a number of people up.”
Only last month, twin bomb blasts killed scores of people in the Sabon
Gari area of the city.
In Abuja, the Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mike
Omeri, expressed government’s displeasure with the senseless
killing of innocent persons.
He said, “At about 2:05pm this(Monday) afternoon, there was an explosion
at the Kano State School of Hygiene located in Kano Municipal City Area of Sabo
Kofar. The bomb was planted within the school compound close to the road
by yet to be identified persons.
“Emergency services have been fully mobilised to the scene while
investigation is ongoing.”