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KANO, Nigeria — The death toll from Monday’s multiple blasts in Nigeria’s north-western state of Kano increased from 24 to 45 yesterday morning, according to the claims of a traditional leader whose community members were mostly affected by the explosions. Chief Tobias Idika, the Ohaneze Ndigbo of Kano State, which literally means Leader of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation in the state, told reporters that he and other leaders of the southern community counted 45 dead bodies that were deposited at the morgue for identification by relations.
“We have records and proof of what we are talking about.
I participated in the rescue operations and I am best informed to tell the world what happened regarding the deaths and the injured,” he said, adding 15 more people who sustained various degrees of injury are currently being treated at government-owned health facilities across the state.
The three explosions which occurred late on Monday were followed by sporadic gunshots in Enugu Road, New Road and Igbo Road of Sabon Gari, a community densely populated by southern Christians.
On Tuesday, Aminu Inuwa, spokesperson of the state-run Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, said 24 dead bodies were received from security agents and the breakdown of the figures showed that three of the victims were female.
Kano State has witnessed waves of violence, mostly perpetrated by the militant sect of Boko Haram.
Thousands of people have been killed in northern and central parts of Nigeria since the sect launched insurgency in 2009.
On March 18, more than 65 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a motor park in the same Sabon Gari area of the state. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter