20 feared dead as explosions rock Kano

THREE coordinated explosions shattered last night the serenity of Sabongari, Kano State — the North’s commercial engine-room — leaving some people dead and many others seriously injured.

Eyewitnesses said no fewer than 20 people were feared dead, following the burning down of a Pentecostal church located on 38/39 and 40/41 New Road.

The police said last night that six people died in the incidents, which no group claimed responsibility for. The Boko Haram sect was believed to have set off the bombs.

The first explosion, which occurred on Enugu Road by Ibo Road, was followed few minutes after by two others on New Road in Sabongari, an area inhabited predominantly by non-indigenes.

The Nation correspondent, who witnessed the first explosion around 9:10 pm, said people had gathered at the popular Enugu Road, close to Forest Villa Hotel to relax, after the day’s work. Suddenly, a Mercedes Benz 190 salon car, which had been parked on the road, exploded.

The explosion shattered the windshield of five other cars parked by the side of the street and destroyed a kiosk. Eyewitnesses said many people were lying on the ground seriously injured. The whereabouts of the owner of the kiosk remained unknown.

There was pandemonium. Many were injured in the stampede.

Few minutes after the first explosion, two bombs also went off on New Road, also in Sabongari, causing confusion in the ancient city.

The military Joint Task Force (JTF) cordoned off the scenes of the explosions. Emergency workers and medical workers were drafted to the scenes.

JTF spokesperson Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigations had been launched into its cause.

The AFP reported at least four blasts.

“There is confusion all over the place. There were four huge explosions, so huge that they shook the whole area. Everywhere is enveloped in smoke and dust,” said Chinyere Madu, a fruit vendor.

Resident Kola Oyebanji said he believed “beer parlours” were the target.”My house is not far from there,” he told AFP. “All my windows are shattered.”

Boko Haram, the extremist group which has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, was blamed for coordinated suicide blasts at a bus park in Sabon Gari in March that killed at least 22 people.