Terrorists have unleashed an army of female suicide bombers in some part of the country.
A female suicide bomber believed to be about 14 years old detonated explosives yesterday at the Kano State Polytechnic in the city that has been under attack by female bombers in the past one week, killing three people.
Seven people were injured when the bomb she concealed in her hijab exploded.
Thirteen people died in attacks on mosques in Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, on Tuesday evening.
It was gathered that the teenage suicide bomber sneaked into the midst of graduands, who were checking the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) deployment list pasted on the wall at the bus stop close to the school’s gate.
The incident happened at about 3:30 pm when the batch A NYSC members converged and were checking the list for their postings.
An eyewitness account said 12 persons were killed and 15 injured, but Kano State Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba said three people died; seven were injured.
‘’ We are in very difficult times, a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. This one that happened here at the Administrative Block of Kano State Polytechnic is frightening.
‘’ The incident, which occurred at about 3:30 pm, calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible for the deployment of police officers in every strategic location.
‘’ So, at these critical times, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as vigilance of everyone of us.
‘’A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person have where graduates assembled to check the placement of the Batch A NYSC deployment.?
‘’It is disheartening to note that when you see somebody around, who is looking like a primary or secondary school pupil to disguise with her hijab in our midst without anybody taking note. We have been telling people about the issue of female teenage suicide bombers, which calls for the attention of the law enforcement agencies to be on the alert.
‘’Look, for hijab wearing female suicide bombers , sentiments and religion should not be the issue but we should face the reality of tackling it headlong so as to avoid future occurrence.’’
Two suicide bombers on Tuesday launched coordinated attacks on two mosques in Potiskum.
The attacks were targeted at worshippers during the evening prayer around 7:30pm local time.
They attacked the Alkali Kalli mosque, a few metres away from the Emir of Fika’s palace and the Sakafa mosque, located at the busy Potiskum central market.
Despite security warnings that people should stay away from blast scenes, residents were milling around the two mosques yesterday to witness the destruction.
Residents stormed the Potiskum General Hospital to identify the dead and the injured.
The authorities declined to give the death toll, but hospital sources said 13 bodies were brought in from the separate attacks; 35 others affected by the explosions are receiving treatment at the Potiskum hospital.
The source said victims with high degree of fracture would be referred to other hospitals.
An official with Isma Medical Initiatives, who was involved in the rescue operation, also said 13 people died and 35 were injured.
“We were involved in the rescue operation from the beginning up to this time and I can confirm to you that 13 people were killed in the separate attacks while 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Many of those on admission will be referred to Either Nguru or neighbouring Azare for treatment,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.
The Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Mohammadu Idris, who visited the scene, condemned the attacks, which he described as “callous and inhuman”. He called on residents to be “vigilant at all times in the fight against terrorism”.
The royal father promised to take responsibility for the medical bills of those on admission at the Potiskum hospital.
In a message from the lesser hajj, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, through his Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs, Abdulfatahi Bego, express deep shock at the attacks.
The message reads: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is currently performing the Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, is deeply shocked and outraged by the loss of lives and suffering caused by the attacks in Katarko and Potiskum in which about 17 people were killed and many more injured.
“Governor Gaidam strongly condemns the attacks which are senseless, heinous and barbaric and totally unjustifiable.
“The Governor’s thoughts and those of his administration are with the families of the victims at this time of great loss.
“His Excellency Governor Gaidam has prayed Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to those killed and quick recovery to those who sustained various degrees of injury”
He directed for free medical treatment of all victims affect in the blast, calling on the people to be ever more vigilante with the change of mode of attacks by the insurgents.
“The Governor has also directed that free medical treatment be provided for all the injured until they are discharged from hospital.
“Given the changing mode of attack by criminals and insurgents, the Governor has called on people across the state to remain ever more vigilant to happenings around their communities and to promptly report any suspicious persons or objects to security agents.
“His Excellency Governor Gaidam has called for increased cooperation with security agents and more intensive prayers for Almighty Allah (SWT) to help restore peace in our state and the nation generally.
“The Governor has also called on security agencies in the state to continue to do more to nip criminal and insurgent activities in the bud and reiterated his call on the federal government to provide advanced bomb detection and other stealth security equipment to help the security agents on the ground more effectively prevent attacks,” the statement read.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday deplored the continuing terrorist assault on Kano and the heinous bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said Dr. Jonathan “similarly deplores the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday.
“President Jonathan condemns the repeated targeting of worshippers, and innocent students who are the nation’s future by depraved terrorists.
“He believes that the callous attacks on soft targets fully affirm that the terrorists’ are nothing but bloodthirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology.
“No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves.
“President Jonathan has therefore directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to further enhance security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks.”
