Nigeria: Boko Haram Islamists Kill At Least 80 In Twin Suicide Blasts As Buhari Escapes Death

By Staff Writer

At least 80 people have been killed in twin suicide bombings in Kaduna state in northwestern Nigeria on Wednesday July 23.

The incident happened in the town of Kaduna, with one targeting a convoy carrying Nigeria’s main opposition leader former president General Muhammadu Buhari, the other a moderate cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.

The first explosion occurred along Isa Kaita Road close to the popular Murtala Mohammed Square, targeting a prominent Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi.

The blast killed more than 35 people, and injured many more, police said.

At the bomb scene close to the square where Bauchi delivered a Ramadan lecture, dismembered bodies lay strewn on the blood-stained soil.

Wednesday’s blast was the second targeting Bauchi in Kaduna State in the last two three weeks. The first explosion near his house injured one person.

The Sheikh is a known critic of the extremist Boko Haram sect, but it’s not clear whether the group is responsible for the latest attack.

As news of the attack spread across the state, and the country, a second explosion occurred barely two hours later, this time targeting a former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari.

The blast occurred as Buhari drove through the busy Kawo Market area of Kaduna city.

 Buhari said in a statement that he was the actual target of the bomber.

“I was personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today along Ali Akilu Road, Kawo-Kaduna at about 2:30pm on my way to Daura,” said Buhari.

“The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car but was blocked by my escort vehicle.

“We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram my car and instantly detonated the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy,” Mr. Buhari said.

The former leader said when he came down from his vehicle; he saw many dead bodies littered around.

“They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of mass murder,” he said.

Spokesperson for the Department of State Security (SSS), Marylyn Ogar, said the first attack took place about two kilometres from the venue of the Ramadan prayer session because the insurgents could not move their vehicle closer due to heavy security presence.

The spokesperson of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed, said the explosion was targeted at the former head of state.

Mohammed said in response to media enquiry. “He narrowly escaped but some of his aides were hurt. The General is ok, but perhaps traumatized.” Mohammed.

 “I’m sure political Boko Haram are behind the attack,” said Rotimi Fashakin,Buhari’s loyalist said. “General Buhari was the target of the attack.”

The leader of a pro-Buhari pressure group, The Buhari Vanguard, Jasper Azuatalam, said the former Nigerian leader was possibly attacked over his recent criticism of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

The blasts bear the hallmarks of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram which has been active northern Nigeria but now appears to be spreading its attacks across the country.

A curfew was put in place in Kaduna by the town’s governor who condemned the bombings as the ‘height of cowardice’.

The attacks have taken place 100 days after the kidnapping of more than 200 girls from their school in the remote northeastern town of Chibok by the Islamists.

The insurgents, who are fighting to carve out an Islamic state in Nigeria, have repeatedly targeted civilians. They have killed more than 2,000 during the first half of this year, according to Human Rights Watch.

To mark the 100 days the girls’ parents held a special commemoration ceremony in the capital Abuja with supporters of the “Bring back our girls” campaign.

Many Nigerians are unhappy with the government, accusing politicians of not doing enough to get the girls released.