GUNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked students singing praises to herald church service inside the Bayero University, Kano, on Sunday, killing no fewer than 10 worshippers, while about 16 others sustained varying degrees of injury.

A professor, Andrew Leo, of Library Department, was among those killed in the bomb blast.

The university’s spokesman, Alhaji Mustapha Zaradeen confirmed the death of seven persons, who were mostly students and other worshippers from outside the university.

This is just as the chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kano State chapter, Bishop Ransom Bello, described the attack on students as barbaric.

The tragic event, which occurred at the old site of the university campus at about 8.30 a.m, caught the student unawares, as the invaders, who came on motorcycles, used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and guns to send the victims to their untimely death.

The attack appeared to be a coordinated one, as the gunmen stormed the two centres where students were worshipping.

The two places services were being held were the Lecture Theatre, where an interdenominational service was holding and the Sport complex, where Catholic faithful were gathered. However, the highest member of casualties was recorded at the Sport complex.

A source, who preferred anonymity, said the gunmen came through the backgate on the new campus road of the university and immediately went straight to the lecture theatre and the sport complex, threw IEDs and fired their guns at the same time.

However, when the security men of the BUK got wind of the attack, they locked up the gate to prevent the gunmen from escaping. The gunmen, however, were said to have forced the gate open with bullets and escaped.

At the time of filing this report, the three motorcycles used for the operation by the gunmen were still at the place they were abandoned, while the students who sustained injuries had been admitted to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

A 400 level Accounting student who was shot in the hands said the attack was carried out at the centre of the Open Theatre meant for the interdenominational service.

She, however, said there was no explosion, saying she only saw the gunmen shooting as well as throwing IEDs.

“This caused pandemonium, making many worshippers to run helter-skelter. Though initially the sound was taken for that of a burst tyre, but when the shooting was sporadic, we later discovered it was gunshots,” she narrated.

Meanwhile, Bishop Bello stated that it was pathetic and sad that innocent students could be attacked, wondering “Why this ugly attack on innocent students while they were observing prayers and worshipping their God?”

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) Lieutenant-Colonel Ikedichi Iwehia, said information available confirmed that seven people died in the incident.

Many worshippers who came from outside to worship at the university abandoned their vehicles and ran for their life. It was also disclosed that some worshippers scaled the university fence to escape attack.

At the time of filing the report, armoured tanks and fierce-looking soldiers had arrived at the scene of the incident. They had also cordoned off the area while a Mercedez Benz vehicle suspected to have been primed with explosives had also been impounded.

The police anti-bomb personnel were also on the ground to handle the situation as well ensure safety of life and property. Civilians were prevented from moving around the scene of attack.

Meanwhile, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the attack as unfortunate and sad, saying it breached the peace in the commercial city.

This was contained in a statement signed by Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, Director, Communication and Public Relations Strategy to the governor and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Kano on Sunday.

Kwankwaso, who cut short an official trip to Abuja to visit the scene of the incident, lamented that such a painful incident was happening at a time peace was gradually returning to the state capital following sporadic attacks by suspected militia men.

He then assured that the state and federal governments would continue to work hard to ensure that peace and harmony prevail among residents of the state.

According to him, the state government had made arrangements with public and private hospitals in the state to ensure that victims of such incidents were treated satisfactorily, while the government would foot the medical bills.

Governor Kwankwaso commiserated with the university authorities and community over the sad incident, saying it would not recur.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Yahuza Bello, who conducted the governor round, explained that some of the worshippers were attacked in an indoor sport hall at the old campus of the university, which they use temporarily as place of worship.

Professor Yahuza added that the second group of worshippers were attacked while conducting the Sunday service outside the Dandatti Abdulkadir Theatre, which they hitherto used, but which is currently undergoing renovation. He said several wounded victims were receiving treatment in hospitals in Kano city.

NANS threatens boycott of campuses
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also condemned the attack on Saint Stephen Catholic Chaplain, Bayero University, Kano.

NANS president, Comrade Dauda Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja, described the attack as callous.

The student body has also threatened to order a total boycott of all Nigerian campuses until concrete steps were taken by the Federal Government to address the wave of terrorism in the country.

The statement said: “We have once again received the news of the callous attack which occurred this morning (Sunday) at the Bayero University Kano, (BUK). It is saddening to imagine that a group under whatever pretense could unleash terror on the campus of one of the nation’s foremost universities to maim innocent peaceful worshipers.

“The Kano attack is coming less than a week of a similar attack on the Gombe State University.

“This act is not only condemnable, it has also increased our demand that the Federal Government should immediately take a concrete step in addressing the increasing wave of terrorism in Nigeria.

“Without mincing words, the NANS in the next few days shall not hesitate to order a total boycott on all Nigerian campuses until the issue of the security of lives and properties is guaranteed on our campuses. We cannot continue to look at our future being wasted. The time to act is NOW!” the statement said.

S/East govs meet over insecurity
Irked by the spate of bombings and killings in some parts of the northern states, the governors of the South-East geopolitical zone on Sunday, met in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, where they deliberated on a number of issues, including the insecurity in the country.

Although the Igbo governors did not expatiate on their strategies, a close source told Nigerian Tribune that the governors condemned in its entirety the insurgence of the religious sect popularly called Boko Haram.

It was learnt that the governors spent over four hours at the Government House, Enugu the venue of the meeting, putting heads together, charting the way forward for the Ndigbo, especially as it concerned insecurity which they were said to have agreed had become the nation’s corperate co-existence.

Further checks revealed that the governors were seriously worried over the rate human lives and property were being destroyed by the suspected Boko Haram sect, especially the recent bombings of some media houses in Abuja and Kaduna State.

“Today’s meeting of the governors was so crucial and that is why all the governors in the zone came for the meeting. They have the people they are ruling at heart and they do not want to be taken unawares. The security situation is very crucial to every sane person at all times. No normal person wants the country to break,” the source added.

However, the chairman of the South-East Governors’ Conference and governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, parried the question on the outcome of the meeting, saying that their meeting “centred on security which is not meant for the public.”

“We met today in Enugu where we talked on security in the South-East and it is not for the public. Nothing more,” Governor Obi added.

Governors of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia states were in attendance while Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was represented by his deputy.

Comments (4)

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written by Echi, April 30, 2012

Nigeria we hail thee. our own dear fatherland. Though tribe and tongue may differ. In brotherhood we stand. Today we stand apart on many grounds. can the real promoters of this divides in Nigeria think again. We have let out a ginnie and it is out to affect all of us. These ordinary Nigerians being mowed down at will, what is their crime? Are they rich? Did they cause the offending poverty? Are they politicians? Do they supretend any of the poverty intervention agencies? What is there crime brothers and sisters? For how long will we continue to deceive ourselves and the world that it is not well and ok with us. We have contracted out or outsourced most of the solution packs for our problems - our roads and major construction projects (Berger, Arab Contractors, CCC, DS&C, Lebaneese, now Asians etc. because we can not trust our Nigerian Engineers either for design or construction). For health, we fly to UK, USA, Germany and now all routes to India( we don't trust our hospitals and doctors in Nigeria). Our private house constructions are now best handled by Ecowas craftsmen(because our skilled manpower has run out, we no longer have apprentices, the artisans are all out on the okada naira race). Our daily food is dependent on rice, flour, indomie, chicken, fish, sugar, salt, apples, grapes, biscuits,baked beans, sweet corn, vegetable oil, cornflakes, wines, fruit juices, yoghorts, food supplements etc etc etc etc. ( because of our sweet tongues and our young farmers who have left the farms on trialers to flood the streets as hawkers, megaurds, show shiners, wheel barrow mobile traders who sleep open spaces and under stairs and trees). Our super markets, open markets, corner shops etc are to be wiped out by the 1,000 Shoprite chain under way (because we are not fit to do simple buying and selling we have all been consigned to by unemployment and under employment). Who realy owns and controls our booming telecoms talk talk addiction slave market? (South Africans, Indians and Europeans because our NITEL must die that they may laugh to their banks). Our taxes, tolls, rates, service fees are now best collected and managed by consignees, touts with clubs and nail spikes on federal and state highways, etc etc etc. Now since all our lives are now better managed by others other than Nigerians or direct federal, state LG or MDA or government operatives, IS IT NOT TIME FOR US TO SEE IF WE AN CONTRACT OUT OUR GOVERNANCE MACHINERY. IF WE CALL FOR GLOBAL AND LOCAL BIDDING FOR GOVERNING NIGERIA WITH GOOD PROFIT MARGIN, WE MAY GET A VERY GOOD DEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH AND BEEN DISSAPOINTED FOR TOO LONG. IT IS TIME FOR A THOROUGH RETHINK AND QUICK QUICK TOO. BOKO HARAM IS A SYMPTOM OF A DEEP WOUND ON THE HEART OF NIGERIA. LETS TREAT PROPERLY AND HONESTLY BEFORE DARKNESS ENVELOPES US ALL. THEY ARE AGITATED. WE ARE AGITATED. KILLING OUR INNOCENT BRETHREN WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR GIVE US GOOD GOVERNANCE.

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Azazi on Boko Haram
written by Dr. Abe Taye, April 30, 2012

This callous killing now is a fallback from controversies of the top government functionaries on the clear information to the nation by NSA Azazi. Instead of facing the truth on the security of Nigerian poeple Politicians chose to selfish and parochial way to cover up. I feel that there is nothing new or diferent from what Azazi said and what president Jonathan said by himself sometimes last year. The President said that there were Members of Boko Haram in His cabinet. is that position not worse than the security report and feedback that the NSA recently intimated the Nation about on Boko Haram?. Nigeria leaders and the followers must stop falsehood and lies in governance otherwise people of Nigeria and comity of Nations will not cooperate with the government to put an end to the insecurity situation of the Nation with particular reference to Boko Haram.Rigtheousness exalts a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people. Stop bringing reproach to Nigerai by falsehood . Azazi told the Nation on the true security report on Boko Haram, instead for the players to humble themselves and make amends they are crying woes. . Nigeria needs now leaders that will tell the true security situation of the country and not lying propagandist around the government. AZazi say the truth and let the devil be ashamed.

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Prof Ayodele
written by New, April 30, 2012

Prof Ayodele is mentioned among the dead by other media

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ban the use of motorcycle
written by Emeka, May 01, 2012

How many people will die before our security agent arrest this barbaric activities. Ban the use of motorcycle for now They usually come in motorcycles

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