20 killed in Kano college blast

Kwankwaso

A bomb explosion which was preceded by sporadic gunshots left over 20 people dead   and 40   injured in   Kano on Wednesday.

The explosion at the entrance to new site of the Federal College of Education, sent many students,   residents of the area and business owners scampering to safety.

According to a witness, Hauwa Abdu, some gunmen who arrived at the area started shooting near the bus stop   and suddenly, a   man in black attire told people   to remain where they were or risk being killed.

She said, “When   the terrified people took to their heels, the gunmen started shooting and suddenly there was explosion at the entrance of the college.”

An NCE 2 student, Aminu Ibrahim, said many students receiving lectures in a theatre close to the gate of the institution rushed out on hearing the explosion.

He explained that in the ensuing melee, some were injured while others lost their lives.

A victim, Hanne Muhammad, said, “When we rushed out of the theatre, some of us were hit by shrapnels. My friend was hit on the face   and hands. She lost consciousness.”

At the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in the city, some workers were seen   attending to injured people.

One of them,Yusuf Musa,   put the number of corpses brought to the hospital at 21.

“Some people came to identify and take the corpses of their loved ones for burial.   We cannot ascertain if they are more dead people   but we counted 21 corpses, including babies.   About 40 are receiving treatment.”

But the state Police Commissioner, Adenrele Shinaba, told journalists that 15 people were   killed while 36 were injured.

The Police headquarters, in a statement   which gave a different account of how the blast happened and its exact place, said two of the armed men were shot dead.

The statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, also put the death toll at 15 but gave the number of those wounded as 34.

It said the terrorists, after detonating an Improvised Explosive Device, began shooting sporadically outside the school premises.

The statement read in part,” At about 1530hrs, two armed men detonated an IED at the lecture Hall of Federal College of Education, Zaria Road, Kano.

“Thereafter, they began sporadic shooting outside the premises. Police team from a nearby Tactical Operations Point responded and shot dead the two insurgents. Their AK 47 rifles were recovered.

“On examination of the scene of the explosion, 15 dead bodies were recovered, while 34 injured were taken to hospital for treatment. The police have sealed the scene of crime and commenced investigation.”

The entrance to the college was sealed by policemen and other security officials   when one of our correspondents visited.

On May 18, 2014, five people died in a suicide car bomb attack in the city.