The spate of bombings in Nigeria is not showing any signs of abating soon. On Friday, three explosions devastated the Central Mosque, Kano,killing 35 people.
Eyewitnesses said the explosions had more devastating effect because it occurred when worshippers were gathered at the mosque for a scheduled weekly prayers.
“Two bombs exploded, one after the other, in the premises of the Grand Mosque seconds after the prayers had started,” an eyewitness said.
The witnesses suggested that the Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was probably the prime target in the bombing, because the bomb exploded in a courtyard very close to the mosque where he was praying at that moment.
According to witnesses the Police responded by firing sporadically, resulting in further chaos, as worshippers and by-standers were already scampering for safety.
There are speculations that, the mosque may have been targeted because, the emir in his preaching last week, had urged northerners to take up arms against Islamist group Boko Haram, casting aspersions on the ability of the Nigerian Military to protect civilians and end the insurgency.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has once again condemned the bombing, while also condoling with the victims and their families.
He called on relief agencies and medical personnel to deploy every possible effort to assist the injured, and the general public to heed the call for the donation of blood by the hospitals where the injured were being treated.
In a press statement signed by Presidency’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, the president further directed the security agencies to launch a full-scale investigation and to leave no stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity, are tracked down and brought to justice.
He reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestation is a despicable and unjustifiable threat to our society.
He called on all Nigerians not to despair in this moment of great trial in the nation’s history but to remain united to confront the common enemy.
“The President is confident that no terrorist act against fellow citizens will destroy the Nigerian spirit to remain positive, resolute and united in the quest for lasting peace and security in the country,” Abati said in the statement.
“He appeals to all Nigerians to remain vigilant and cooperate actively with our security agencies to win the on-going war against terror.”
In his own reaction, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the latest bomb blasts.
He also condemned previous bomb blasts in Kontagora (Niger) and Maiduguri, capital of Borno.
In a statement by his media office, the former Atiku said he was devastated personally by the frequency and brutality of terrorist attacks on innocent people, adding that this ceaseless violence achieves nothing.
According to him, the attacks on mosques, churches, schools, bus stations, markets, shopping plazas and other heavy human targets, defy the teachings of all known religions of the world.
He said his heart always bleeds at this senseless violence, adding that it was high time the Boko Haram terrorists abandoned violence and embraced peace once and for all.
While calling on Nigerians to be more vigilant and share human intelligence, he at the same time called on the country’s security forces to be ahead of the terrorists with better strategies.
While acknowledging that terrorism is a relatively new security challenge, he said more efforts are needed to improve detection of terrorists before they reach their targets.
He called for rigorous public education to help ordinary Nigerians identify suicide bombers before they reach their intended targets.
He expressed regrets that many ordinary Nigerians behave indifferently in the presence of terrorists because they lack trained eyes to detect terrorists.
While commending the sacrifices of security forces he also called for faster and more rigorous response to terrorist threats. He explained that the ease with which terrorists break through security checkpoints.
He expressed his condolences to the people and government of Kano State, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Kano Emirate and the families of all those who may have been killed in the heinous attacks in Kano, Kontagora and Maiduguri.
