Gunmen, suicide bomber kill 65 in Kano school, Kaduna

Gunmen, suicide bomber kill 65 in Kano school, Kaduna

Unknown gunmen stormed a village in Kaduna, killing about 50 residents.
In Kano, gunmen stormed a school, shooting indiscriminately. Students ran out of their classrooms, screaming. Amid the pandemonium, a suicide bomber stormed a classroom and set off an explosion.
By the time the smoke cleared a few minutes later, 15 students lay dead; 34 were injured at the Federal College of Education, Kano.
There were two suicide bombers. One entered the classroom at the new campus and set himself ablaze, killing the students.
The other suicide bomber went within the school’s premises and set himself ablaze, but nobody was killed or injured as the students had already run for their lives.
Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba, who was at the scene of the incident, confirmed that 15 students were killed and 34 were seriously injured.
According to him at about 1:30pm some unidentified people climbed the fence of the Federal College of Education, Kano and jumped into the premises, shooting sporadically to scare the students. Eventually, he said, one of the two suicide bombers entered one of the classrooms and set himself ablaze, killing 15 of the students and injuring 34 of them.
Shinaba said the other suicide bomber went to an open space where he set himself ablaze, but most of the students had run for their lives.
The suicide bomber died. Shinaba said two AK 47 rifles were recovered from the scene.
The college has been cordoned off by security men and the school has been shut down.
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives sustained during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.
He sympathized with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack and wished them speedy recovery.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force for taking prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize the resultant casualties.
He urges the security agencies to be more alert and proactive in the future in order 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.” It stated
Among the 50 person killed by unknowm gunmen are a pastor, four expectant women, children and a soldier, were reportedly killed in Fadan-Karshi villages, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Nationalso gathered that two other soldiers were seriously injured in the attack. They are receiving treatment at the Gwantu General Hospital, among hundreds of other residents, it was gathered.
There have been series of attacks in Fadan-Karshi since April. No fewer than, which according to sources had 300 people, mostly women and children, have been killed.
A resident, Mike Sanga, told reporters in Kaduna that the attackers invaded Fadan Karshi Daji and nearby communities, burning houses, including a church where several cars were parked.
He said: “In our counting, 12 people were killed in Fadan Karshi, 30 in Fada Karshi Daji, seven others in another community. A pastor and another person were also killed at Ungwar Ganye.”
The council’s Vice Chairman, Pastor Bulus Mandey Anzah, said expectant women, the elderly and children were killed. Hundreds of residents have fled their homes to unknown destinations.
Anzah, who is standing in for the council chairman, Hon Emmanuel Danzaria, said there were temporary camps for some of the displaced peoples. He urged emergency agencies to support them.
“The attacks are getting worse every day. Some of the soldiers who attempted to repel the attack were also injured. Another soldier was killed,” he said.
“Many of the injured are now receiving treatment at the Gwantu General Hospital,” Anzah added.
An official of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that over 50 people were killed.
The official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said several houses and a church were burnt. He put the Internally Displaced Persons’ figure at over 10,000.
The Centre Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA) has described the attack as “barbaric”.
The group, in a statement issued by Dr. John Danfulani, said the assailants killed many people, injured over 40, burnt down homes and destroyed farmlands.
“Not long ago, the same area witnessed mass killings by the same unknown gunmen. In as much as we know that the country is facing difficult security challenges, we believe the government’s reaction, in terms of providing relief to the affected communities and injured persons, leaves much more to be desired.
Many a time, their interventions are too little too late, despite having agencies like NEMA and SEMA at the federal and state levels. Worse, is the government’s lack of moral courage to boldly accept failure in its number one duty, which is safeguarding lives and properties,” the statement said.
The group also slammed elected and appointed public office holders from Southern Kaduna saying: “They are a gigantic disappointment for their refusal to draw the attention of the government to attacks in Southern Kaduna.”