Not up to two hours apart, two targeted car bombs were detonated in Kaduna on Wednesday afternoon, killing 82 people, injuring many others but missing the duo that were apparently the main target of the bomb attack.
Former Military ruler of Nigeria and an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart General Muhammadu Buhari, was the target of the second bomb, while Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, popular for his public denunciation of the Boko Haram sect was the target of the first explosion.
The explosion in which Buhari was apparently targeted occurred at the busy Kawo market area of Kaduna city, damaging all the cars in his convoy including the Toyota Land Cruiser bearing the retired General. Buhari had been on his way to his home town – Daura in neighbouring Katsina State when the incident occurred.
“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,” Buhari said in a short statement released a few hours after the explosion.
He described the attack as a clear attempt at assassinating him, while narrating what he observed before the eventual explosion.
[The bomb] came from a fast moving vehicle [a Toyota Sienna] that made many attempts to overtake my security car but was blocked by my escort vehicle,” Buhari narrated. “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.”
The former Military ruler said the most painful thing was the innocent lives lost in the attempt.
“They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder,” he said, describing the scene that greeted his eyes when he came out of the battered Land Cruiser.
APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed confirmed the incidence. However, he added that the former Head of State was safe but is still disturbed by the eventuality.
According to witnesses, the explosion involving Bauchi claimed 25 lives, while the casualty for the second incident has not been officially released. Buhari’s aides were severely injured.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the twin attacks, describing it as dastardly acts by terrorists and enemies of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country.
Jonathan thanked God Almighty for sparing the lives of Buhari and Bauchi, extending condolences to the families of those who were killed by the bomb blasts.
The president also commiserated with all those who were injured in the twin bombings, saying the attack defies the holy month of Ramadan and the tenets of Islam, to prove that the terrorists are nothing but blood-thirsty extremists bent on undermining the unity and progress of the nation.
The President directed the Police and other national security agencies to take all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks, urging all residents of the city to give them the fullest possible cooperation and support as they work to bring the terrorists to justice.
Former Governor of Lagos State and a fellow member of APC, Bola Tinubu also condemned the Kaduna incidents, saying it confirms that Nigeria is in the grip of terror under a bungling presidency.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on General Buhari and his convoy, and the innocent Nigerians that suffered untimely deaths,” Tinubu said. “I thank God that General Buhari’s life was spared for greater service to the fatherland.”
Tinubu seized the opportunity to quickly throw words at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration, saying Nigeria is slipping into a low intensity war while the PDP- government is increasingly growing in incompetence and incoherence.
“Today’s multiple attacks are a bad omen that signposts a future filled with danger and uncertainty,” Tinubu said. “Unfortunately, Nigeria is saddled with a leadership totally intolerant of ideas, suggestions and advice that do not emanate from them. We in the APC has put forward concrete suggestions which have been consistently rejected and snared at by the PDP led Jonathan government.”
He said instead of the government to reach out to the opposition party for help and pay attention to our suggestions, it has “turned the guns on” the opposition and is “manipulating and doctoring reports and stories” to label the opposition.
“It is a label that is false. It is a label that will not stick. We are patriots and stand united against anyone who wants to do this great country harm,” Tinubu said. “I call upon those with the power, the resources and in charge of the security apparatus of this country to get up and do something before we all are consumed.”
Kaduna State Governor Muktar Yero has declared a 24-hour curfew on the state.
