Buhari, Islamic cleric target of Kaduna bombers – DSS
Popular Islamic cleric based in Kaduna, Shehu Dahiru Bauchi, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Head of State, retired Major General Muhammadu Burari, were the suspected targets of two bomb explosions in different parts of Kaduna metropolis on Wednesday by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Spokesperson for the Department of State Security and member of the National Information Centre. Marylyn Ogar, confirmed the incident involving Buhari and the cleric at a press briefing by the National Information Centre, NIC in Abuja on Wednesday.
“Of course you know that Imam Shehu Dahiru Bauchi holds annual Ramadan prayers.
“Now, we don’t want to be too forward because his convoy missed being hit by the whiskers and of course, we don’t want to be presumptuous also by saying it was targeted at him.
“So, investigation is still ongoing.”
It was the second time during the ongoing Ramadan that Bauchi would be targeted by the terrorists.” Ogar said.
The first attack foiled just a few days into the fasting month when the bomb detonated on the way to his house.
Ogar explained that the explosion that took place in Kaduna about two kilometres from the venue of a Ramadan prayer session organised by Imam Bauch was because “the insurgents could not move the vehicle closer because there was heavy security presence.
“Unfortunately, the whole prayer session had come to an end and people have dispersed.
“They were moving out of the Muritala Square.
“The bomber had parked the vehicle close to where other vehicles were parked and there was a limit to which they can go further.”
Earlier, Coordinator of the NIC, Mike Omeri, had disclosed that 25 persons were reported dead and 14 others sustained injuries and were already receiving treatment with security forces and emergency workers mobilised in the area.
Omeri also said that a few hours after, “as we are about coming in here, we heard that another explosion also occurred in the same Kaduna around Kawo area.”
The second explosion at Kawo area, where a big market and motor parks are located, also narrowly missed the vehicular convoy of Buhari but killed at least 14 persons.
Ogar appealed to Nigerians to continue to be vigilant as security agents cannot be present everywhere.
“We have always said that we as citizens take a little bit of time to look around us.
“Double parking in any place should not be condoned and of course because of the nature of the work, you won’t expect that the security people be everywhere and that is why we are asking the citizens to contribute their own quota.
“As a preacher, if you know that there is somebody in your congregation that does not tolerate any form of evil in the society, you must be conscious.
“I want to tell you that there is no way a vehicle laden with explosives will drive from Abuja to Kaduna.
“These people bring this thing in tiny components and couple them before moving them and most times they would have done a survey of the roads they are going to pass through, especially when it is not a suicide mission.
“Like in this particular case, the bomb was laden in a J5 and was remotely detonated.
“We must be conscious of our environment, get to know who your neighbour is, get to know what the next man is doing. “Be vigilant.”She said.
