Sunday 20 January 2013

Emir of Kano escapes death as gunmen attack convoy

 by:
Emir of Kano escapes death as gunmen attack convoy Left is Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. To the right his vintage limousine with shattered windows following yesterday’s attack in Kano on the monarch’s convoy by unknown gunmen.
Providence yesterday saved the Emir of Kano,Alhaji Ado Bayero from death after suspected terrorists targeted his official car,a Limousine, threw an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the vehicle and opened fire on his convoy.
The Emir’s driver, two palace guards and an official of Kumbotso Local Government, in the convoy were not that lucky: they were killed in the resulting explosion. Several others were injured.
Bayero,82, and one of the most revered traditional rulers in the country, was unhurt according to the spokesman for the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Kano, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha. “We are still chasing further details,” he said.
The Emir who is into his 50th year on the throne was returning to his palace from a Qur’anic graduation ceremony at Masallacin Murtala, on Zoo Road when his convoy ran into an ambush by the yet to be identified gunmen.
The gunmen, according to eyewitnesses, were in two groups: one group rode in a smashed Sport Utility Van (SUV) while the other were on a motorbike. The two groups attacked simultaneously with the explosive devices and guns. Time was about 10.30am. The operation was over in a few seconds. The men quickly fled the scene.
An eye witness who pleaded anonymity said that the Emir’s departure from the event started with the firing of local gun shots. “After the traditional gun shots, we started hearing strange gun shots and everyone started running for his life. We praise Allah that He spared the life of our Royal Father,” the eyewitness said.
It was also gathered that once the palace guards sighted the gunmen they immediately formed a protective shield around the Emir which made it difficult for him to be hit. It was in the process that three of them died from the volley of bullets fired by the terrorists.
Operatives of the JTF soon arrived the scene, cordoned off the area and beefed up security in the metropolis. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State last night paid a sympathy visit to the Emir over the attack. Emerging from the palace, the governor told reporters that the Emir’s convoy was ambushed on his way back to the palace after attending a Qur’anic graduation ceremony at Hausawa Quarters in Kano metropolis.
While expressing gratitude to Allah that the monarch escaped unhurt, Kwankwaso described the incident as both unfortunate and condemnable. “I’ve just met the Emir in good condition and I sympathised with him over the loss of three of his staff. We discussed at length over the issue. We thank the Almighty Allah that the Emir is unhurt,” he said.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the slain guards and wished others who sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack quick recovery. Kwankwaso also prayed for peace to reign in the state and the country.
Kano has been the scene of several attacks in the last two years by Boko Haram, the deadliest so far being the January 20,2012 mayhem in which about 185 persons died.
Violence has worsened in Kano in the past week, with near daily attacks by Boko Haram against security forces. Only last Thursday, soldiers killed two Islamist gunmen in a shootout and arrested five others at a checkpoint in Kano.
Boko Haram, according to security sources, has forged links over the years with international jihadists in Mali and Niger, including al-Qaeda’s North African wing, whom French and West African forces are fighting in northern Mali. Nigeria plans to deploy around 1,200 troops as part of a West African intervention force.
The Emir has also personally been attacked in the past by youths. Soon after the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of the 2011 election,some youths attacked the palace and set some vehicles there ablaze.
Alhaji Bayero, the 13th Fulani Emir of Kano, ascended the throne in1963.
TheNation

No comments:

Post a Comment