Kano once again convulsed Wednesday when a female suicide bomber detonated a bomb which killed fresh graduates who came to check their names for National Youth Service Corps one year compulsory service at Kano State Polytechnic. Six persons including the bomber died in the process. This was even as a 10-year-old girl wired with explosives was yesterday arrested by eagle-eyed cops thus averting yet another explosion and possibly death.
The female teenager concealed the explosive inside her Hijab and blew it off in a queue where dozens of Nigerian youths had gathered.
Sources said that the incident happened at about 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
The Kano State Police Commissioner, Aderenle Shinaba confirmed the casualty.
“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 on Bayero University Kano road is frightening.
“The incident occurred at about 3:30 pm as this situation 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 this critical time, 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 every one of us.
“A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person has where graduates assembled to check their results 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 student 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 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,” said the police boss.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Wednesday in Abuja that he expected members of Nigerian’s vibrant private sector and friends of the country in the international community to donate very generously to the Victims’ Support which will be formally launched tomorrow to provide more relief and succour for all those who have been adversely affected by terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Speaking at separate audiences with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, President Jonathan said that he hoped that over a 12-month period, about $500 Million would have been raised through the fund to further alleviate the sufferings and deprivations imposed on Nigerians living in states worst affected by terrorist attacks.
The President who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to doing all within its powers to help victims of insurgency and terrorism rebuild their lives and communities, said that the fund, which will be managed by a non-governmental organization, will also be deployed in support of the rebuilding of destroyed schools and the creation of a safer environment for education in affected states.
Welcoming the pledges of support from the Commonwealth and UNFPA, made by Mr. Sharma and Prof. Osotimehin, President Jonathan said that his administration appreciated the solidarity of the International Community as it grapples with the challenging task of overcoming the twin scourges of terrorism and insurgency.
“We continue to work very hard to deal with the problem. It is a major challenge and we welcome all the assistance we can get,” the President said. He also assured Mr. Sharma that Nigeria remains fully committed to the goals of the Commonwealth and will continue to support all efforts to reform and strengthen the organization for the benefit of member-countries and their people.
Mr. Sharma had told the President that he was in Abuja to express the Commonwealth’s full solidarity with Nigeria as it contends with the very difficult task of overcoming insurgency and terrorism, and to also explore ways in which the Commonwealth could assist Nigeria in that regard.
Prof. Osotimehin said that UNFPA was already working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its civil society partners in Nigeria to provide a measure of support to families and girls in some affected states.
