CSW, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Report: At least eight people have died in three bomb attacks that rocked the capital of Kano State in northern Nigeria within a 24-hour period.
According to the Nigerian Police Force, a suicide bomber “suspected to be a female” detonated a device at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Filling Station in the Hotoro area of Kano City yesturday, killing three people and injuring eight.
On Sunday 27 July, at least five people died and sixteen were injured when an improvised explosive device was hurled at Saint Charles Catholic church in the Sabon Gari suburb as the congregation was leaving Mass. Local reports indicate the victims were a soldier who was guarding the church; a man, two women and a child. Three suspects arrested at the scene of the blast remain in custody. This was the second bombing in three days targeting the predominantly Christian and Igbo suburb. Five people died and many more were injured when a bomb exploded in the New Park Motor Park on 24 July.
Also on 27 July, a young female suicide bomber dressed in a black hijab detonated explosives after being challenged as she approached a police check point near the North-West University, injuring five officers.
Festivals marking the end of Ramadan were cancelled following Sunday’s bombings.
On the same day, Boko Haram operatives are reported to have overrun Garkida Town in Gombi Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State.
Elsewhere, the government of Cameroon has increased security in the north of the country after Boko Haram launched a sustained attack on Kolofata Town on 27 July and abducted several people, including the wife of the country's deputy prime minister, her maid, a local traditional ruler and five members of his family. Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali and his wife had travelled to Kolofata to celebrate the end of Ramadan. While Cameroonian soldiers managed to rescue the deputy Prime Minister, they were unable to rescue his wife. According to local reports, two of Deputy Prime Minister Ali’s brothers may have died during the attack, along with at least 14 others.
The assault on Kolofata Town was the third by Boko Haram in northern Cameroon in three days and is the latest involving kidnapping. In May, suspected Boko Haram members abducted ten Chinese workers, who remain missing.
Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the recent bombings in Kano. As the raid on Kolofata Town illustrates, Boko Haram poses a transnational security threat, and we urge continued collaboration between Nigeria and its neighbours to reinforce security on their borders and to jointly formulate an effective strategy to uncover the group’s hideouts and release its hostages. We continue to call for a surge in troop numbers, in order to protect rural towns and villages which remain targets of Boko Haram’s violent and nihilistic campaign.” CSW/Ind. Cath. News
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