Exclusive: KANO MOSQUE BLAST, see why the Bombing • emir Sanusi Visit Scene say Attack planned for 2 months • CAN Condoles With Familie • President Jonathan Condemned act THE emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, on Saturday, said the perpetrators of the devastating bomb blast that killed over 120 people and left hundreds injured, planned the attack for two months, though he did not give details to support the claim. The emir said this during his visit to the affected Kano Central Mosque, adjacent to his palace. Our source that Sanusi, who was outside the country when the attack occurred, had recently, at the affected mosque, directed civilians to take up arms against the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram. The emir also directed, yesterday, that the mosque, which was reportedly blood-stained, be washed and cleaned up. “From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Sanusi said as he arrived at the mosque straight from the airport, adding that “I have directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue there. “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.” Responding to the deadly attack..... * the chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, described it as sad and shocking, urging President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to take responsibility for security challenges facing the country. He expressed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s readiness to partner with the government in abating the crisis. Saraki, who spoke with journalists shortly after he obtained the certificate of clearance from the APC screening committee to contest the 2015 elections into the Senate, urged Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to join hands with the Federal Government in sending away terrorism from the country. Also commenting, leader of the National Action Council (NAC) and Owa’Tapa of Itapa Ijesa land, Dr Olapade Agoro, described the killing as “a highly condemnable desecration of a holy place of worship,” just as he described the perpetrators as “intemperate animals simply after blood-letting.” Residents foil attack on victims’ hospital Meanwhile, prompt response from residents, on Friday, averted what could have resulted in another catastrophic incident in Kano, as they descended on a female suicide bomber who was reportedly desperate to gain entry into the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, where most victims of the Friday attack were being treated, to detonate bombs. Our source gathered that no fewer than five suicide bombers were rounded up and killed in the city on Friday, as findings showed that determined worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque actually overpowered an insurgent, who was shooting at the confused worshippers after the bomb blast and set him ablaze. A source told Sunday Tribune that it took the alertness of sympathisers carrying dead bodies and helping injured victims to the hospital to stop the female suicide bomber who pretended as a sympathiser to gain access into the hospital premises. “She made frantic effort to detonate the improvised explosive device on her, but the people at the vicinity pounced on her, removed the device and in annoyance, set her ablaze,” the source claimed. In the meantime.... * the state governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while condoling the victims at their hospital, called on the perpetrators of the gruesome killing to come out for dialogue. This is just as he announced that the state government would foot the bill of all injured victims receiving treatment in various hospitals in the state. Governor Kwankwaso berated the attack, saying it was uncalled for. He added that whatever was behind the move, God was not happy with killing of innocent people. The governor, who had to cut short his political consultation journeys to some states in the country, following the explosion, said he was touched when he heard of the incident. He urged people of the state to continue to pray to God to touch the hearts of those behind the act, so that they would come out and dialogue with government. Emir might have been target Why the attack.... *investigation showed that the statement credited to Sanusi, who also worships at the mosque, might have precipitated the attack. He was said to have called on the people of Kano to defend themselves against insurgents’ attack. He made the statement when some Muslim faithful paid him a visit in his palace. It was in the course of responding to their observations that he reportedly made the statement. CAN Condoles With Familie...The Kano State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday condoled with families of the victims and the state government over the bomb blasts that rocked the Kano Central Mosque on Friday. Describing it as wicked and ungodly, the Chairman of the association in the state, Bishop Ransom Bello, said the attacks were the handiwork of “wicked, blood-thirsty evil men, wearing the garb of religion. “We send our deepest condolences to the people and Government of Kano State. We sincerely commiserate with all the families of the bereaved. We deeply feel and share in their pains at this time of their emptiness. “The Boko Haram Sect would eventually fall while the Nigeria nation would grow stronger and its people would become more united. The collective will of the good people of Nigeria is much more, stronger than the evil agenda of members of the Boko Haram Sect and their sponsors. “We must all collectively- irrespective of religion, tribes and political differences- take a firm stand against terrorism and their actors. We would not, and should not, allow the intention of these terrorists to destroy our unity and peaceful co-existence in Kano state or in any part of the country,” he said.Update: KANO MOSQUE BLAST,
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 09:30:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015