Kano school attack: 15 killed, 34 injured, President Jonathan Releases Statement....

There was a  bomb blast  at the Federal College of Education in Kano yesterday, It was reported that ,an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, was  thrown into a  lecture hall at the school and that it , claimed the lives of 15 students while 34 others sustained injuries.

According to an eyewitness, lecture was going on when two terrorists walked in and threw two objects that exploded  within seconds. The blast was accompanied by sporadic gun shots as some of the gunmen, who were stationed outside the lecture hall,opened fire on some of the students who tried to escape from the scene.

The incident that occurred around 2.00pm at the school’s new site located at Gadon Kaya  triggered pandemonium as students,  lecturers and visitors to the school scampered for safety.

Also in the neighbourhood, residents locked up their houses, while shop owners in the vicinity hurriedly closed businesses as confusion reigned.

The prompt response of security agents at the nearest check point however saved the day as they engaged the gunmen and shot two of them to death.

Addressing newsmen at the scene of the incident,  the Kano Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba confirmed that “15 died, while 34 were injured”.

Shinaba disclosed that two among the dead were the attackers gunned down by his men in an exchange of fire, explaining that those injured have been taken to a government hospital in the city.

The police boss said: “We have recovered two AK-47 assault rifles from the assailants”,  pointing out that the command has launched a massive manhunt to track down other fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the people of Kano State and all Nigerians that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to increase the capacity of the nation’s security services to prevent attacks on innocent citizens by terrorists.

 In a statement he said:

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commiserates with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives sustained today during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.

    President Jonathan’s sympathies and best wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack.

The President commends the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize resultant casualties.

He urges them to be even more alert and proactive in the future to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.

President Jonathan reassures the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government continues to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 17, 2014