Explosion kills 8 in Kano health school

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Eight persons have been confirmed killed in a bomb explosion which occurred yesterday at the Kano state School of Hygiene, in the city centre, at about 2.05pm.  Also, several other persons feared to be students and teachers in the institute were injured even as some sources claimed that the death toll in the incident is much higher than the official figure of eight.

An eyewitness who does not want his name in print told our correspondent at the scene of the blast, that the suspected suicide bomber entered the premises of the school when newly admitted students were collecting their admission letters and detonated the bomb close to them.

The witness added that the suspected bomber, who was wearing the bomb on his body, disguised as a student before detonating the explosive device.

The source further said that the loud bang of the explosion at the premises of the school, situated along the Bayero University Kano (BUK) Road in Kano, immediately sent fears among residents of some parts of the commercial city, many of who scampered for safety.

This loud bang, the source said, forced the remaining students, including both male and female, to jump over the fence of the school for safety.

Meanwhile, the Kano state Commissioner of Police, Ade Shinaba, who came to the scene of the explosion, confirmed that eight person died immediately.

He also said twenty others sustained injuries, in addition to eight cars which were damaged, while one suspect has been apprehended by the security agencies.

“The explosion occurred around 2.05 pm when a bomb exploded in the school premises, killing eight people, while twenty others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, eight cars were damaged by the explosion and one suspect has been arrested and investigation has commenced”, he stated.

When asked if the incident was a suicide bomb attack, he said investigation will unravel that, adding that preliminary inquest showed it was neither a planted nor a car bomb.

Meanwhile, the federal government yesterday condemned the incident and assured that security operatives were doing their best to contain the rising menace.

Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri disclosed this in an interview with Hausa service of the BBC, monitored yesterday from Abuja.

Mr. Omeri, while commiserating with victims of the attack called for calm and urged people who harbour terrorism tendencies to drop their evil ways as such would not do them any good.