President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged “to leave no stone unturned” in tracking down the perpetrators of a mosque attack that killed dozens of people. He however urged the nation “to confront the common enemy” after the gun and bomb attack during Friday’s prayers in the northern city of Kano.
In a statement, President Jonathan ordered the country’s security services “to launch a full-scale investigation and to leave no stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity are tracked down and brought to justice”.
He said the government would “continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism”.
Police said 35 people were killed in the attack at the Central Mosque, but some eyewitnesses claimed that far more people lost their lives.
A rescue official has put the casualty toll at 400 dead and 270 hurt, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Some reports say the first bomb was hidden in a car which was driven straight into the worshippers.
According to one eyewitness “The imam was about to start prayer when he saw somebody in a car trying to force himself into the mosque. But when people stopped him, he detonated the explosions. People started running helter-skelter.”
But then several men then opened fire on the crowd, killing more people. Three of the gunmen were caught, and – as the terror turned to rage – they were killed on the spot.
The Central Mosque is where the influential Muslim leader, the Emir of Kano, usually leads prayers who recently called for people to arm themselves against Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks against civilian targets since the Nigerian military launched an offensive last year.
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