I was personally targeted , Buhari says
Yero imposes 24-hour curfew
By AbdulRaheem Aodu, Samuel Aruwan and Ojo Sola Olusegun, Kaduna
Former Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and renown Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, narrowly escaped death yesterday as two bomb explosions rocked Kaduna, killing 39 people.
Scores of people were injured, with several vehicles burnt.
The first explosion, believed to be targeted at Sheikh Dahiru, who had just concluded his annual end of Ramadan Tafsir at nearby Murtala Muhammed Square, took place at about 12:45 p.m. along Alkali Road by Isa Kaita Road with the suicide bomber said to be following the cleric’s convoy on a motorcycle before he was forced off the road by the scholar’s security men, who had noticed the bomber’s restiveness.
Sensing that he might be forced off the road without achieving his aim, the suicide bomber was said to have hurled the bomb at the direction of the Sheikh’s car, where it exploded, killing the bomber and passengers of a Peugeot J5 bus packed full with followers of the scholar.
Sheikh Dahiru’s car and another vehicle behind it were undamaged and the scholar escaped unhurt, but eyewitnesses said he was splattered with blood from one of the injured people.
Sheikh Dahiru was on his way to his home located in the Asikolaye area, close to Bakin Ruwa on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, popularly known as Western Bypass, when the incident occurred.
There was a minor explosion close to the Sheikh’s house a few weeks ago, which only shattered the windscreen of a car but injured nobody.
The Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Shehu, who was at the scene of yesterday’s blast, said: “For now we have recorded 25 dead bodies. People have just closed from the Ramadan Tafsir led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, and we provided enough security at Murtala Square, the venue of the Tafsir. But the bomb was planted far away from the venue, to target him through the route he was taking to go home. We are doing our best to safeguard the country, so we are appealing to the perpetrators to lay down their arms.”
Eyewitnesses, however, said the figure of the dead was about 35 while they put the figure of the injured people at scores.
Those who sustained injury were evacuated to Garkuwa Hospital and the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital.
Efforts made by our correspondent to access the hospital and get the actual figure of the dead and the injured were abortive as he was barred by soldiers from entering the premises.
A Second Blast
The second bomb blast occurred near the Kawo Motor Park and was apparently aimed at Buhari’s convoy that was heading to Daura, Katsina state, for the Sallah festival.
The APC chieftain was in a bullet-proof Toyota Prado jeep sandwiched by two Toyota Landcruisers containing the security detail and members of the General’s entourage when the convoy was rammed by a suicide bomber in a Toyota Sienna bus carrying the bomb, which immediately exploded, damaging the two Landcruisers.
“But the damage on his own SUV was minimal because it was bullet-proof,” said an eyewitness, adding, “Buhari, three of his aides, his security detail and members of his family, who all sustained minor injuries, immediately escaped on foot before hailing an unmarked car to whisk them away from the explosion scene.”
More than 20 other vehicles, including buses and various cars, were affected by the explosion as most of them were burnt to ashes; some were burnt with the drivers and occupants.
A man, who disguised himself by wearing a woman’s apparel was arrested by soldiers at the scene of the blast in Kawo and was immediately taken to the military barracks for interrogation.
Police later confirmed to reporters that 14 people were killed by the blast while five people were injured.
Eyewitnesses, however, said dozens of people were killed as four trucks belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Kaduna state security outfit, Operation Yaki, evacuated the dead bodies and those who sustained injuries to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital.
I Was Targeted – Buhari
In a reaction, Buhari last night said he was personally targeted for assassination, pointing out that the bombers trailed him unsuccessfully but injured three of his security officers that were rushed to hospital.
In a statement he personally signed, he said: “I was personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today at about 2:30 p.m. on my way to Daura.
“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 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.
“Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I saw many dead bodies littered around. They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder.
“Thank God for His mercy, I came out unhurt, but with three of my security staff sustaining minor injuries. They have since been treated in hospital and discharged.”
Yero Imposes 24-hour Curfew
In a reaction, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has condemned the attacks, describing them as “the height of cowardice by those bent on creating tension in the state.”
He imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Kaduna metropolis with immediate effect to enable security agencies restore normalcy.
The governor, in a statement issued by his Director-General (Media and Publicity), Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, commiserated with the families of the victims, saying that the incident was a clear manifestation of the resolve by agents of darkness to soak the land with the blood of innocent people.
He said: “Enemies of peace have visited us with their ungodly venom of wanton destruction of human lives. This blast, coming in the holy month of Ramadan, is a clear indication that those behind the act have no iota of fear of God as they have none for the sanctity of human life.
“Despite the success recorded in improvement of security in Kaduna state, it is obvious that more still needs to be done to ensure safety of our people at all times and in all places.”
He directed security agencies to intensify surveillance, while they pursue perpetrators of the blast, just as he assured the populace that government would do whatever is required to return peace back to the state.
He called on the people of the state to see such unwarranted attacks on innocent people across the state as aggression by evil against good that must be collectively condemned by all.
