Female suicide bombers kill three, injure 14 in Kano

A suspected female suicide bomber blew up herself at the NNPC mega station in Hotoro, Kano, on Monday, killing three persons and injuring 8 others. Barely four hours after this attack, another female suicide bomber targeted the Trade Fair Complex in Kano, wounding six.

These are the third and fourth bomb attacks in Kano in just 24 hours. On Sunday, no fewer than five persons lost their lives following twin explosions which occurred in Kano. The first blast went off at Kofar Nasarawa, near the North-West University, while the second explosion happened at St. Charles Catholic Church on Zungeru Road in Sabon Gari, all in Kano State. Aderenle Shinaba, Kano State police commissioner, had said on Sunday that the attack at Kofar Nasarawa was carried out by a 16-year-old girl suicide bomber who wanted to cross over to the university.

According to a statement signed by ACP Frank Mba, police public relations officer, in Abuja, on Monday, the suspected bomber slipped into a crowd of people buying kerosene at the station, located at Hotoro quarters, Maiduguri Road, Kano, about 10a.m. and detonated the bomb.

“The suicide bomber and three others have been confirmed dead; eight persons are injured and rushed to the hospital.

“It is instructive to note that the mega station did not go ablaze due to the security barricade put in place by the policemen on duty at the station.

“Security forces have cordoned off the scene and police bomb disposal experts are sweeping the area,” the statement said.

It said investigation into the incident had begun, while security operatives had intensified patrol of the city.

Area vendor Habibu Ali told AFP that the attacker with explosives concealed under her clothes targeted women who had lined up to buy kerosene at the petrol station. Ali said the queue was long.

In a similar development, another female suicide bomber on Monday targeted the Trade Fair Complex in Kano. This came four hours after the first one. The police in a tweet said the security barricade around the complex and Shoprite mall forced the bomber to detonate outside the target. The bomber died instantly, wounding six persons.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the blasts, but Boko Haram has been staging attacks, especially with explosives, outside its North Eastern heartland for the past three months.

Meanwhile, the management of a nearby mall has issued a statement saying,  “Following a bomb explosion apparently targeting a Sallah event at the Trade Fair Complex next to our mall, the management of Ado Bayero Mall has decided to close the mall for the rest of today July 28 in the interest of public safety”.

The situation is being monitored closely and futher announcements will be made as deemed necessary.

We thank the shopping public and the people of Kano for their patience and understanding.