Twin bomb blasts rock Kaduna, 39 confirmed dead

Twin bomb explosions rocked Kaduna metropolis on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people. Former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari narrowly escaped being killed in the second blast. The explosions started at Alkali by Isa Kaita Road when a suspected suicide bomber on a motorcycle believed to be trailing famous Islamic Scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi exploded with the bomb. About two hours later, another explosion rocked Kawo market, close to the popular Kawo flyover bridge. At the scene of the first blast, Kaduna Police Commissioner, Umar Shehu who confirmed to journalists that 25 people were dead described the blast as unfortunate. According to him, preliminary information gathered revealed that the suspected suicide bomber might have targeted Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who just completed the annual grand finale of his Ramadan Tafsir at Murtala Square . However, eyewitnesses told The Nation that the bomb which occurred at about 12.45pm while large crowd of Sheikh Bauchi’s followers were just departing from the venue of Tafsir ground, was a sabotage. However, angry adherents, who shed tears over high casualty, claimed the bomb blast was carried out by the government and not Boko Haram. According an eyewitness who identified himself as Musa Aminu, “the suicide bomber was on bike and he was desperately trying to follow the convoy of Sheik Dahiru Bauchi when security people diverted him. In the process, he hit a parked car and the bomb exploded”. Confirming the incident at the scene of the blast, the Police Commissioner confirmed that the bomber targeted a prominent Nigerian, even though he refused be specific on whether it was Buhari or not. He confirmed 14 people dead and four injured in the second explosion. However, eyewitnesses said the casualties of the Kawo explosion were far more than that of Alkali Road. At the scene of the Kawo explosion, a man who disguised as a woman was arrested by the military personnel on ground. Unconfirmed report said, the suspect was in possession of a bag, containing many mobile phones.