72 Die In Kaduna Twin Bomb Blast

Over 72 people have so far died in the  twin bomb explosions that rocked through Kaduna State in north-western Nigeria.

The first explosion occurred along Isa Kaita Road close to the popular Murtala Mohammed Square, targeting a prominent Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi.

The blast killed 25 people, and injured many more, police said.

At the bomb scene close to the square where Mr. Bauchi delivered a Ramadan lecture, dismembered bodies lay strewn on the blood-stained soil.

Wednesday’s blast was the second targeting Mr. Bauchi in Kaduna State in the last two three weeks. The first explosion near his house injured one person.

The Sheikh is a known critic of the extremist Boko Haram sect, but it not clear whether the group is responsible for the Wednesday attack.

As news of the attack spread across the state, and the country, a second explosion occurred barely two hours later, this time targeting a former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari.

The blast occurred as Gen. Buhari drove through the busy Kawo Market area of Kaduna city.
In a short statement, Gen. Buhari said he was the target of the bomber.

“I was personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today along Ali Akilu Road, Kawo-Kaduna at about 2:30pm on my way to Daura,” Gen. Buhari said.

“The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car but was blocked by my escort vehicle.

“We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram my car and instantly detonated the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy,” Gen. Buhari said.

The former leader said when he came down from his vehicle, he saw many dead bodies littered around.

“They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder,” he said.

At least 15 persons died in the second explosion.

The Spokesperson for the Department of State Security, SSS, Marylyn Ogar, said the first attack took place about two kilometres from the venue of the Ramadan prayer session because the insurgents could not move their vehicle closer due to heavy security presence.