President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday vowed to get to the root of the multiple bomb blasts and acts of violence which rocked the city of Kano on Friday, leaving seven persons dead and others injured, saying those behind these acts of terrorism would? be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Although the Nigeria Police Force claims that only seven lives were lost, hospital records show that at least 120 people were killed.
In statement by his Special Adviser On Media and Publicity, the president said: “As a responsible Government, we will not fold our hands and watch enemies of democracy, for that is what these mindless killers are, perpetrate unprecedented evil in our land. I want to re-assure Nigerians, the international Community, and members of the fourth estate of the realm, who lost one of their colleagues, a reporter with Channels Television,? that all those involved in that dastardly act would be made to face the full wrath of the law”, Jonathan stated
“Among the seven persons killed in the incident was a reporter with Channels Television in Kano, Mr Enenche Akogwu. Mr Akogwu was reportedly shot and killed while on duty during the exchange of fire between men and officers of the Nigeria Police and the terrorists at the Farm Centre Police Station, Kano.”
Soldiers and police officers swarmed over streets in Kano.
According to the Associated Press, hospital records viewed showed at least 120 people died in the attacks that started Friday afternoon after Muslim prayers and as shops closed for the weekend in the sprawling, dusty city.
A mortuary attendant, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with journalists, said they had 126 bodies there.
Other bodies likely lay at other clinics and hospitals in the city.
In a statement issued late Friday, federal police spokesman Olusola Amore said attackers targeted five police buildings, two immigration offices and the local headquarters of the State Security Service, Nigeria's secret police.
Nwakpa Nwakpa, a spokesman for the Nigerian Red Cross, said volunteers offered first aid to the wounded, and evacuated those seriously injured to local hospitals. He said officials continued to collect corpses scattered around sites of the attacks.