The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero on Saturday narrowly escaped death when some gunmen driving in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) threw an explosive device and immediately opened fire on his convoy in Kano.
The Emir’s driver and three of his guards were feared dead, while others sustained injuries during the attack.
Residents said that the incident happened at about 10.30am when the Emir was returning from the launching of an Islamic School at Masallacin Murtala, along Zoo Road in the Kano metropolis.
The Emir was said to be safe and unhurt and had been moved to an undisclosed location.
Eyewitness account said the attack followed the traditional shots fired by palace guards heralding the Emir’s exit from the event. “After the traditional gun shots, we started hearing strange gun shots and people ran for dear lives. It was a terrible experience and the worst on the Emir. We praise Allah that he spared the life of our Royal Father,” an eye witness said.
Immediately after the incident, the Joint Task Force cordoned off the area, as security has also been intensified in the ancient city of Kano.
At the time of filing this report, the JTF spokesman in Kano, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha said he was yet to be briefed on the full details of the attack, saying that immediately he gets the full details, he will make an official report of the incident available.
Kano has come under attacks from the dreaded Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram, though it is not known at this time if they are involved in this attack.
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The driver of the emir was feared dead, including three of his guards who were in the convoy at the time of the attack, with some of them sustaining injuries.
Residents said that the incident happened at about 10.30am, when the emir was returning from the launching of an Islamic School at Masallacin Murtala, along Zoo Road in the metropolis.
It was gathered that the gunmen were said to have ambushed the convoy of the emir immediately his vehicle left the mosque where he has gone for a recitation ceremony of the Holy Qur’an.
However, the emir was safe and unhurt, as he had been moved to an undisclosed location.
Sources within the vicinity of the incidence also told this reporter that the gunmen who came on motorbikes on sighting the emir’s vehicle, opened fire which led to the death of the driver and three of the emir’s guards.
Eyewitness account said the attack came after Palace Guards fired the traditional shots heralding the Emir’s exit from the event.”After the traditional gun shots, we started hearing strange gun shots and People ran for dear lives. It was a terrible experience and the worst on the Emir. We praise Allah that he spared the life of our Royal Father,” according to an eye witness.
It was also gathered that the emir’s guards who exhibited bravery on sighting the gunmen who had opened fire immediately maneuvered their way to shield the emir, and in the process, three of them were hit by the bullets of their assailant.
Immediately after the incidence, the Joint Task Force cordoned off the area, as security has also been intensified in the ancient city of Kano following the ugly incidence.
At the time of filing this report, the JTF spokesman in Kano, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha said he was yet to be briefed on the full details of the attack, saying that immediately he gets the full details, he will make an official report of the incident available.
Kano has come under attacks from the dreaded Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram, though it is not known at this time if they are involved in this later reported incident.
It could be recalled that barely 24hrs to the January 20th, 2012 attack in Kano by the Boko Haram insurgents, which left over 185 persons dead and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed, the emir’s attack on Saturday 19thJan., 2013 may apparently signal another scenario.
