As the city of Kano began stocktaking of Friday’s deadly bomb blasts, Emir Muhammed Sanusi II said yesterday that the attack was planned for two months.

The Emir, who was out of the country during the attack, returned home yesterday apparently after cutting short his trip to visit the Central Mosque at his palace, and sympathise with the bereaved and the injured.

Up to 120 people were feared dead after two suicide bombers and several gunmen launched the attack during the Juma’at prayers.

The Police insisted yesterday that 34 people died and 125 injured even when an attendant in one of the mortuaries in the metropolis claimed to have counted 102 dead bodies.

A top official at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital who does not want his name in print said the mortuaries at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Sir Muhammad Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Sheikh Muhammad Jiddah General Hospital, Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Reaching Hospital were all filled to the brim with bodies brought in from the scene.

“This is the deadliest attack ever carried out in Kano,” the official said.

Emir Sanusi II who drove straight to the scene from the airport directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned.

“From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Associated Press (AP) quoted Sanusi as saying, but gave no details .

“I have directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue here,” he said and vowed: “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad III, speaking on the attack, at a different forum in Abuja yesterday, said: “those behind all the attacks are not Muslims.

“I do not believe those perpetrating these are Muslims because if they are Muslims they are not professing what Islam teaches,” the Sultan said during the Post-2014 Hajj Conference organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria at the National Mosque, Abuja.

He added: “In the world over it is the duty and responsibility of government to provide security for the citizenry. This is the time for all the various sects in Islam in this country to rally round one another and bring to an end insurgency in this country.”

Tension remained high in the metropolis yesterday as residents went from one hospital to the other searching for their missing relations from among the dead and the injured.

Many of them broke down in tears once they sighted the d bodies.

Some of the bodies were collected and taken for burial immediately.

Sympathisers also besieged the various hospitals with a view to donating blood to save the lives of those receiving treatment.

Insufficient blood bags however constituted a problem.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the attack ‘horrific’.

He pledged U.N. support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, and called for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice, according to his spokesman.

Some survivors of the deadly attack relived their experiences in separate interviews.

Auwalu Sule, 48, who said he has been worshipping at the mosque for 16 years said: “we were about to start praying at about 2.15 pm, when we heard a deafening sound of bomb explosions.

“Simultaneously, some people started shooting sporadically followed by another bomb blast. Before we knew it another explosive strapped to the body of a suicide bomber went off inside the mosque. We all went down on our tummy.

“Almost everyone to my left lay dead; it was only Allah who saved me because one of the gunmen was standing beside me thinking that I was dead.

“Then I heard people saying worshippers should stop running. I wanted to get up, but I was afraid. But once the shooting stopped, people summoned the courage and went for the two gunmen left behind, disarmed them and set them ablaze.”

Another survivor, Aminu Yahaya, 32, said soldiers arrived the scene 15 minutes after the attack only to start beating up those rescuing the injured and helping to evacuate the dead bodies.

Hamisu Dakaura, 35, who runs a shop close to the mosque claimed to have counted “over four hundred people that lost their lives.”

“We worked for over four hours evacuating the bodies. As we were evacuating the bodies, soldiers descended heavily on us and they were trying to stop us, shooting sporadically to scare us from the scene.

“They vandalised vehicles. Even tricycles numbering over 30 that were being used to evacuate the dead bodies the soldiers shot. It was only Allah that saved me or else I would have been a dead man for trying to assist in the evacuation of the dead.”

Nasiru Ahmed, 19, and Baffa Tijjani, 38, who went to the Abdullahi Wase specialist Hospital to donate blood to the victims were dismayed that there were insufficient blood bags.

The State Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr. Sanusi Lemu, told reporters that 34 people died.

He said investigation into the blasts has commenced.
Source
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/attack-planned-for-two-months-says-sanusi/

soldiers shooting rescuers?


lawa o..

So, Sanusi knew about it and prefer to do nothing, so that he can blame GEJ and the security agencies.

Thank God I am from North, my leaders and people from my region will not allow
this to happen.

I trust they will stop it.

Your silence has changed the equation of many families for life.

What a wicked silence, sir.

May souls of departed rest in peace and may God give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

2 months?

Mallam, How you take know?

tit:
2 months?

Mallam, How you take know?

that is why he travelled.

Emir Sanusi:

“From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Associated Press (AP) quoted Sanusi as saying, but gave no details

Did he pre inform the army about a planned attack by boko haram? If he did,then why didn't the army take the necessary measures to frustrate the bombers?

If he did not inform the army since he knew an attack was being planned,why?

tit:
2 months?

Mallam, How you take know?

As an Emir,he should have such information.Even civilian JTF used to get information in advance about planned attack by Boko haram.

Blood dey hot with the pain & frustration didn't let d people think of maybe interrogating the gunmen....b4 killing them

This the horror called Nigeria and some goons will come here shouting Gej till 20madness when he is exclusively COMPLICIT in Terrorism. AS A C-IN-C

This is very surprising. The only thing on ma mind right now are questions and questions.
How did Sanusi know about the impending attack? Who are his Intel? How did he came to the conclusion that it was planned two months ago? If he knew something as big as a planned suicide attack, why didn't he warn worshippers around the mosque and the security agencies on the impending attack?

idumuose:

As an Emir,he should have such information.Even civilian JTF used to get information in advance about planned attack by Boko haram.

#fact

From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Associated Press (AP) quoted Sanusi as saying, but gave no details

The emir should not be quoted out of context. Obviously this is an assumption based on the accuracy and professionalism of the attack as brains must have been involved in its planning.

The main question is what was this attack meant to achieve. My guess is more conflict, distrust and discord in the religious arena of the nation.

idumuose:

As an Emir,he should have such information.Even civilian JTF used to get information in advance about planned attack by Boko haram.

please people should stop basing their assumptions or comments on just one sentence. What the emir said and meant that ,from all indications in terms of attack ,timing,and how the attack was carried out,the attackers would have been studying the vicinity and security activities around the mosque for like 2 months. HE DIDN'T SAY HE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACK FOR 2 MONTHS. That is why the emir used the sentence “from all indications”

what's more is that boko haram has realised that an all out war with the military to claim land is fruitless and hence has started picking on high value targets a new strategy ever since the first and second ceasefire deals that ensured reinforcement

onatisi:
please people should stop basing their assumptions or comments on just one sentence. What the emir said and meant that ,from all indications in terms of attack ,timing,and how the attack was carried out,the attackers would have been studying the vicinity and security activities around the mosque for like 2 months. HE DIDN'T SAY HE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACK FOR 2 MONTHS. That is why the emir used the sentence “from all indications”

Be truthful to yourself, would you have said this if the president had made such a comment?

“In the world over it is the duty and responsibility of government to provide security for the citizenry. This is the time for all the various sects in Islam in this country to rally round one another and bring to an end insurgency in this country.”

A nice and honest swipe at GEJ's government. Yet some idiiots will come here to tell us the northerns are killing themselves and we should allow them.

I am a yoruba and a Christian and I have no relative in the north but saddened by the killing going on there because I believe we are one. Muslim or Christian, we are ONE. And if you allow terrorist to operate in checked in one particular area, they will soon extend their mode of operation to areas you never imagined.

We have already seen a bomb blast in Lagos, matter of time before the whole country is taken over ( GOD forbids ) if our so called president does not do the right thing finally.

It is wicked that a supposed Christian president has allowed this to go on and on simply because he wants power at all cost. The bible that should be a model for his life and rulership says " love your neigbhour as yourself" If you love your neighbour, you won't allow them to be killed unnecessarily to score a cheap political advantage.

Posterity will judge us all.

Some people are already blaming Sanusi for making an assumption. Yet another reason why GEJ must go. Our education system is in so much ruin. People do not even recognise an assumption any more.

papaejima1:


Be truthful to yourself, would you have said this if the president had made such a comment?

it is obvious you don't know me very well. Go through my posts on political issues and you will know me better. Despite my political affiliation,I don't mince words when something is wrong,I say it the way it is. Secondly no president will make such a statement. A president makes statements from a position of authority. So if a president makes such a statement,it will be taken that he had been briefed by his military intelligence officers but such isn't the case with the emir. He is just a traditional ruler and no matter how influential or powerful he can be ,he can and will never have the kind of security intelligence information and apparatus available to Mr President. A statement like this coming from the emir can be overlooked or assumed to be misquoted but if such a statement emanates from Mr President ,he will not be forgiven.

arsetalks:
Some people are already blaming Sanusi for making an assumption. Yet another reason why GEJ must go. Our education system is in so much ruin. People do not even recognise an assumption any more.

bros,don't blame gej for peoples lack of english language comprehension skills oo. Most of the people u are here that blaming emir for an assumption went to private schools where they paid exorbitant school fees.it just boils down to lazy thinking,once they see an article with five paragraphs, they feel it is too long. Therefore they just look at the topic heading and start making comments.

onatisi:
bros,don't blame gej for peoples lack of english language comprehension skills oo. Most of the people u are here that blaming emir for an assumption went to private schools where they paid exorbitant school fees.it just boils down to lazy thinking,once they see an article with five paragraphs, they feel it is too long. Therefore they just look at the topic heading and start making comments.

If our government owned Unis are good, parents won't waste money on the expensive and very worthless private universities.

However, I was just been a cheek even though I want GEJ out, I know full well that parents and the students contribute just as much as the government in the decay we currently have in our educational system.

teemy:


The emir should not be quoted out of context. Obviously this is an assumption based on the accuracy and professionalism of the attack as brains must have been involved in its planning.

The main question is what was this attack meant to achieve. My guess is more conflict, distrust and discord in the religious arena of the nation.

bros ,prelude to every general election in nigeria ,there is always an high alert for violence or attacks. This attack is like a warning to the emir from boko haram that they can attack him or his base .remember that it was just some few days back when the emir said that muslim should stand up and defend themselves. I will take this to be a warning message to the emir and other northern rulers not to incite their subjects against boko haram by boko haram. but the peoples reaction shows that they are ready to fight against boko haram even if their lives is at stake ,this was demostrated by the people when they overpowered the 5 attackers despite the fact that the attackers were shooting at them. But the unprofeSsional conduct and attitude of nigeria army when they arrived after the attack is bad. Boko haram matter can be settled and won by nigeria only if the nigeria army start demonstrating true professionalism and by winning the people love and trust. THE masses in the north are key winning card in the fight against boko haram. If the nigeria army can get the masses trust and loyalty,they will defeat boko haram totally withing 2months.

arsetalks:
If our government owned Unis are good, parents won't waste money on the expensive and very worthless private universities.

However, I was just been a cheek even though I want GEJ out, I know full well that parents and the students contribute just as much as the government in the decay we currently have in our educational system.

bros ,we may have different political views but we seem to agree on this issue. Come to think about it,the problem you have highlighted here is the main problem of the majority of nigeria unemployed youths and graduates. That was why a top industrialist once said that over 70% of nigerian graduates are unemployable. How will a graduate who can't read,analyse and comprehend an article of 5 paragraphs be able to look around his environment and look for opportunities to be self reliant. That is why they spend all their time and days on nairaland insulting govt. Govt has its own short comings but the nigerian masses themselves are the major problem of nigeria,until the nigeria people change their attitude ,the country will never have a change for good leadership. A leader is a product of the society and most times a reflection of the society systems and standards .

onatisi:
bros ,we may have different political views but we seem to agree on this issue. Come to think about it,the problem you have highlighted here is the main problem of the majority of nigeria unemployed youths and graduates. That was why a top industrialist once said that over 70% of nigerian graduates are unemployable. How will a graduate who can't read,analyse and comprehend an article of 5 paragraphs be able to look around his environment and look for opportunities to be self reliant. That is why they spend all their time and days on nairaland insulting govt. Govt has its own short comings but the nigerian masses themselves are the major problem of nigeria,until the nigeria people change their attitude ,the country will never have a change for good leadership. A leader is a product of the society and most times a reflection of the society systems and standards .

I agree with you bro. I have had the priviledge of interviewing would be employees ( all sourced from Nairaland ) and I can understand what you are saying. However, government contributes majorly to the decay.

We are the direct opposite of England. Kids get begged to go to school, provided all but must of them rather involve themselves in thuggery and benefit taking whereas in Nigeria, kids want to go to school but do not have the necessary encouragement from Government and the unavoidavle support from parents.

arsetalks:
I agree with you bro. I have had the priviledge of interviewing would be employees ( all sourced from Nairaland ) and I can understand what you are saying. However, government contributes majorly to the decay.

We are the direct opposite of England. Kids get begged to go to school, provided all but must of them rather involve themselves in thuggery and benefit taking whereas in Nigeria, kids want to go to school but do not have the necessary encouragement from Government and the unavoidavle support from parents.

I agree totally with u. But just like I said earlier ,govt has its own share of the blame by not providing enough conducive environment,strong monitoring and implementation of educational policies. But the major share of this problem is from parents and students. Right from primary school in nigeria now ,parents bribe class teachers to promote their children,parents bribe teachers and examiners to sneak in answers to their children is waec exams hall,parents bribe to influence marks given to their children,even on nairaland here many people advertise in the education section their services of helping students upgrade their jamb scores,parents bribe to get their children admission and etc. So this has made students to believe that they don't need to task their brains at all once they have money and know people they will always scale through. Bros,like I use to tell my friends here ,nigeria is a simple complex complicated problem.

diluminati:
This the horror called Nigeria and some goons will come here shouting Gej till 20madness when he is exclusively COMPLICIT in Terrorism. AS A C-IN-C

sharaaap and stop thinking through your pvssy!

Northerners take things for granted, that is why things like this will continue to happen

Nigerian police need to stop this outdated strategy of deliberately reducing the number of the dead when a tragedy happens

I really don't know what this strategy achieves

state the numbers as they are!

I believe the Emir said this in order not to make it seem the attack was in response to his 'defend yourself against boko haram 'call.The Emir
Knows if this is established then northern leaders would be afraid to speak out against boko haram for fear of reprisal .

dat9jaguy:
I believe the Emir said this in order not to make it seem the attack was in response to his 'defend yourself against boko haram 'call.The Emir
Knows if this is established then northern leaders would be afraid to speak out against boko haram for fear of reprisal .

intelligent contribution

Is Sanusi shai or Sunni?