Police confirm 5 deaths in Kano blast

The Kano State Police Command on Monday confirmed the death of five persons in Sunday’s suspected suicide bombing in Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis.

The command said in a statement signed by its spokesman, ASP Magaji Majiya, that the blast occurred at about 10pm.

It said that five persons, including the suicide bomber, were killed in the incident at Middle Road by Gold Coast in Sabon Gari.

It, however, said that the number of injured persons could not be ascertained.

On Sunday night, a senior security source who visited the scene along Middle road/Gold coast road told TheCable the car exploded near a drinking joint.

The source added that the primed car might have been heading to a targeted destination but exploded on the way.

The dead may include the occupants of the car, he said.

The car was severely damaged.

Kano State police commissioner Aderenle Shinaba confirmed the incident to the media.

He said the victims were three men and a girl, thought to be 12 years old.

In July 2013, a twin explosion occurred at the new road and Enugu areas of Sabon Gari, Kano, killing a dozen of people.

A series of attacks in January 2012 led to over 200 deaths.

Boko Haram has bombed drinking joints in the past, including the Mammy Market at Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, on New Year’s Eve in 2011.

But Sunday night’s explosion was thought to be accidental.

“The car was probably heading for a bus station ahead of Monday morning to inflict maximum damage on commuters,” the source said, making reference to the Nyanya incident of April 14, 2014 which happened on a Monday morning.

Over 70 persons died in the Nyanya blast as commuters set out in the rush hour of that day.