Kano School attack: 15 killed, 34 injured

 Kano school attack: 15 killed, 34 injured

On september 18, 2014 at 9:00 am in news

A student looks over at the damage to a lecture
hall at the Federal College of Education in the
northern Nigerian city of Kano, on September 17,
2014, following an attack by Boko Haram gunmen
who stormed the lecture hall opening fire on
students, killing 13 and injuring 34. One attacker
was shot dead by police and another died after
an explosive belt he was wearing detonated,
according to the police. AFP PHOTO
In a related development, an Improvised Explosive
Device, IED, thrown into a lecture hall at the
Federal College of Education, Kano, yesterday,
claimed the lives of 15 students while 34 others
sustained injuries.
According to an eyewitness, lecture was going on
when two terrorists walked in and threw two
objects that exploded within seconds. The blast
was accompanied by sporadic gun shots as some
of the gunmen, who were stationed outside the
lecture hall,opened fire on some of the students
who tried to escape from the scene.
The incident that occurred around 2.00pm at the
school’s new site located at Gadon Kaya
triggered pandemonium as students, lecturers
and visitors to the school scampered for safety.
Also in the neighbourhood, residents locked up
their houses, while shop owners in the vicinity
hurriedly closed businesses as confusion reigned.
The prompt response of security agents at the
nearest check point however saved the day as
they engaged the gunmen and shot two of them
to death.
Addressing newsmen at the scene of the incident,
the Kano Commissioner of Police, Adenrele
Shinaba confirmed that “15 died, while 34 were
injured”.
Shinaba disclosed that two among the dead were
the attackers gunned down by his men in an
exchange of fire, explaining that those injured
have been taken to a government hospital in the
city.
The police boss said: “We have recovered two
AK-47 assault rifles from the assailants”, pointing
out that the command has launched a massive
manhunt to track down other fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has
assured the people of Kano State and all
Nigerians that the Federal Government was doing
everything possible to increase the capacity of the
nation’s security services to prevent attacks on
innocent citizens by terrorists.
Jonathan condoles with victims’ families
In a statement on the attack on students, the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati quoted the president
as commiserating with the families of those who
lost their lives while praying for the quick recovery
of those who sustained injuries.
The statement read in part: “President Jonathan
commiserates with citizens and residents of Kano
State on the loss of lives during the attack by
terrorists on the Federal College of Education,
Kano.
“President Jonathan’s sympathies and best
wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all
those who suffered injuries in the dastardly
attack.
“The President commends the officers and men of
the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action
to confront the attackers and minimize resultant
casualties.
“He urges them to be even more alert and
proactive in the future 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”.
Fulani gunmen kill 32 in Kaduna villages
Also, after what looks like a brief respite,
suspected Fulani gunmen have again attacked
three communities in Sanga Local Government
Area, in the Southern part of Kaduna State, killing
32 villagers, after killing a soldier and injuring
four other soldiers in an ambush. This was
disclosed by Mr Bezard Wuyah, National
President, Ninzom Development Youths, NPY.
Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command,
DSP, Amuni Lawan, who confirmed the attack,
however said he was yet to get the full brief of
the latest incident at press time.
Speaking to Vanguard on phone, Bezard said:
“We heard before now that Fulanis were planning
to attack us again. They came last night around
1am, and attacked Fadan Karshi, Karshi Daji and
Unguwan Ganye which were close to one another
in Sanga LGA.
“They first ambushed a military patrol van that
was crossing a bridge from Fadan Karshi to
Karshi Daji. They fired at the soldiers and killed
one, and four were injured. But the soldiers
repelled the attacks. The Fulani men then moved
in three groups. One went to Fadan Karshi, where
they killed 12 people, burnt down 20 houses and
injured scores. They moved to Karshi Daji, killed
20 people and burnt down several houses. Those
that attacked Unguwan Ganye are still in the
place, so we can not tell you the casualty figure
now. But among those killed in Fadan Karshi was
the wife of a very respectable retired clergyman,
Rev. Jacob Aku. His wife was burnt to ashes in
the attack.”
“We need serious protection and security from our
government or we will be forced to protect
ourselves”, he said.
It will be recalled that in June there was
relentless assault for a week in which not less
than 160 villagers in seven Ninzom villages, in
Sanga Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna
state were killed, and some of the villages razed.

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