I don’t know how I survived — Chief Imam of
Masalacin
The orgy of violence in the Northern part of the
country by gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram
insurgents, continued yesterday, with the killing of
over 200 Muslim worshippers, who were sent to
their grave by a triple blast that rocked Kano
Central Mosque, where the Emir of Kano normally
leads prayers.
Saturday Vanguard gathered from eyewitness
account that the two Improvised Explosive Device
inside the mosque and one outside the mosque
exploded simultaneously at the point worshippers
had congregated for the Friday Jumat prayers.
According to the source, who was close to the
Mosque, the deafening sound triggered
pandemonium and stampede within and around
the mosque.
“I personally counted 70 lifeless bodies inside the
mosque and over 150 bodies were recovered from
outside. The most painful aspect of the
development was that most of the victims were
children,” the eyewitness, who did not give his
name told Saturday Vanguard.
Another source familiar with the history of the
Mosque, said that there had been two previous
attempts on the life of the former Emir near
another Mosque that is about six kilometres away
from the scene of yesterday’s attack but
wondered why nothing was done by the security
agents to address the threat.
The eyewitness said that many children who
accompanied their guardians to the mosque were
trampled during the ensuing confusion.
It was learned that there was sporadic gunshots
after the blast, while several worshippers fleeing
the scene were felled by stray bullets.
The Friday blasts triggered riot in the city as
people in major markets hurriedly locked their
shops to ward off looting in the volatile city that
has enjoyed peace after it came under attack by
Boko Haram on January 20, 2012.
Ambulances were seen conveying bodies and the
injured to the three major hospitals in the city,
while most of the mortuaries were filled to
capacity at press time.
The cases of the injured rushed to hospitals were
complicated by the strike embarked upon by
health workers in the city over unpaid allowances
and sundry issues with Federal Government.
However, a security officer who preferred
anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that, “The
morgues are filled to capacity and we have
counted many bodies so far.”
The security officer who claimed to have
participated in the rescue operation, added that
most of the victims were children.
It could not be ascertained at press time whether
the attacks were aimed at the Emir of Kano, who
had recently called on the people to take steps to
defend themselves against Boko Haram.
A source close to the Emir, said that the
influential Muslim and traditional ruler had
travelled to Saudi Arabia via Paris for undisclosed
reasons and was not at the Mosque at the time
of the attack.
The acting state Police Public Relations Officer,
Mr Mustapha Abubakar could not confirm the
casualty figure, when contacted, but said “We are
still taking stock and official figure will be made
available soon as it is ready.”
He added, “We have restored order in the city.”
The Kano blasts, which were one in a series to hit
the ancient city came barely two days after two
female suicide bombers hit Maiduguri killing more
than 70 people and injuring others.
Boko Haram, which is trying to Islamise Nigeria,
has so far killed no fewer than 2000 since it
launched its murderous campaign in 2009.
I don’t know how I survived — Chief Imam of
Masalacin
The Chief Imam of Masalacin Nakuka of Naibawa
quarters, Alarama Muhammadu Inuwa, yesterday,
shortly after the blasts, narrated how he survived
the triple explosions that ripped through the Kano
central mosque.
Inuwa who survived the blast alongside his 32 –
year old son, Ahmad Inuwa, said “Allah is alive.
What I witnessed today (yesterday) was a journey
through the valley of hell.”.
The septuagenarian added “For two years I have
not set my foot on this mosque. I was compelled
by certain exigencies bothering on Islamic
knowledge to come here, which brought me closer
to death.
“We were set for the prayers when we had the
first, it was accompanied with sporadic gunshot
and the ensuing confusion triggered wailing
among worshipers, who ran in different directions
for safety.
“I saw lifeless bodies as I fled the scene. I saw
blind beggars running for safety. I saw the old
and the young being trampled, and I saw people
crying as if the end of the world has come.
Indeed, it was an unpleasant experience. “How I
escaped is still a mystery to me as my son I were
involved in the race for life.”
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