Confusion as bomb explodes in Kano

Written by The Punch Friday, 27 January 2012

Confusion enveloped another area of Kano on Thursday as an Improvised Explosive Device (bomb) exploded in the major luxurious bus park in New Road, near the popular Eldorado Cinema in Sabongari, Kano.

The New Road luxurious bus park where the bomb exploded around 1.40pm served as the main park for non-indigenes, particularly Igbo, traveling out of the state.

An eyewitness said a can was thrown between two luxurious buses – Ekesson and Gobison – by an a man who fled the area immediately.

Moments after he ran away, the can exploded, injuring one person and causing minor damages on the vehicles. Intending passengers fled the park.

Most shop owners in and around Sabongari hurriedly locked up and rushed out of the area.

The pandemonium caused a gridlock at the Ibo Road by France Road junction.

Police sources told our correspondent that no arrest had been made as at the time of filing this report. But they gave assurance that they would get to the root of the incident.

After the initial shock, people recovered shortly after, particularly with the swift arrival of security agents who immediately condoned off the area.

A police helicopter was observed flying at low altitude around the area.

Most of the people and vehicles in and around the park were evacuated, while security agents and bomb disposal experts took over the place.

Earlier, the sound of burst tyre of a truck ferrying goods from the popular Abubakar Rimi (Sabongari Market) along Ibo Road, near France Road, caused serious panic.

Meamwhile, the Imo state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, and wife of Vice President, Mrs. Amina Sambo, on Wednesday paid sympathy visits to Kano State last week’s bomb attacks.

Okorocha told Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the attacks unleashed on the city “was a total disaster.” He pleaded with Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers.

He counseled Nigerians to embrace dialogue in expressing their grievances instead of resorting to violence.

He explained that he was in Kano to encourage the Igbo community residing in the state to remain calm.

Okorocha advised the Igbo community to live peacefully with their host communities and consider themselves as “Igbo of Kano State not Igbo in Kano State.”