27th July, 2014
Kano, Nigeria’s biggest northern city has cancelled Eid festivities marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan after a deadly church bombing and a female suicide bomber’s attempt to attack a university, an official said Sunday.
There was also a vehicle laden with explosives that was discovered at Isyaku Rabiu Mosque, which would have served as a praying ground for hundreds of Muslims Sunday.
“Given the critical situation we are in, the royal highness (of Kano state, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) has suspended all festivities associated with the eminence including the Durbar and other traditional events that are held during the Eid festival,” an aide to the emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, said today.
Nigeria Police said on Sunday that as part of on-going investigations into the various terror related incidents that occurred in Kano, it’s operatives in the ancient city have arrested five male suspects for their complicity in the attacks.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Frank Mba, police said two of the suspects were arrested in connection with the foiled bomb attack at Isyaku Rabiu Mosque, while three were arrested in connection with the attack at St Charles Church which occurred Sunday afternoon.
Reports indicated that about five lives were lost to the Sunday attack in which an improvised explosive device was allegedly thrown into the Church auditorium.
Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police added that all the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation.
The Police also said its has embarked on intensive patrols of the city while it also advised citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious person or activities to security forces.