KANO, Nigeria, (Reuters) – Gunmen set off three bombs and opened fire on worshippers at the main mosque in north Nigeria’s biggest city Kano yesterday, killing at least 81 people, witnesses and officials said, in an attack that bore the hallmarks of Islamist Boko Haram militants.
Blasts from the coordinated assault rang out as scores of people packed into the ancient building’s courtyard for afternoon prayers. “These people have bombed the mosque. I am face to face with people screaming,” said local reporter Chijjani Usman.
The mosque is next to the palace of the emir of Kano, the second highest Islamic authority in Africa’s most populous country and a vocal critic of Boko Haram. The emir, former central bank governor Lamido Sanusi, was not present.
Boko Haram, a Sunni jihadist movement which is fighting to revive a medieval Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria, regards the traditional Islamic religious authorities in Nigeria with disdain.
It has attacked mosques that do not follow its radical ideology in a bloody near six-year campaign that has also targeted churches, schools, police stations, military bases and government buildings.
“After multiple explosions, they also opened fire. I cannot tell you the casualties because we all ran away,” a member of staff at the palace told Reuters on Friday.
After the attacks, angry youths blocked the mosque’s gates to police, who had to force their way in with tear gas.
Reuters visited two mortuaries, one with 20 bodies from the attack, the other with 61, according to medical officer Muhammad Ali. The victims had blast and gunshot wounds, he said.
President Goodluck Jonathan said in statement that he would “not to leave any stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity are tracked down and brought to justice.”
