Kano mosque bombing claims over 100 lives

The Kano State capital remains tense following an attack on the Central Mosque by the Islamist terror group Boko Haram on 28 November that claimed the lives of over 100 people.

According to local reports, the attack began with a car bomb which exploded as Juma’at prayers (Friday prayers) began and was followed by two explosions inside the mosque. Worshippers who attempted to flee were gunned down by sect members stationed outside the building, two of whom were eventually overpowered and lynched when they ran out of ammunition.

Kano Central Mosque is attached to the palace of the Emir of Kano, who made a speech there last week urging northerners to take up arms against Boko Haram expressing doubts at the ability of Nigeria’s armed forces to protect civilians and end the insurgency.

CSW has also received unconfirmed reports that a female would-be suicide bomber dressed in a hijab was apprehended at Murtala Specialist Hospital in Kano at around noon on 30 November. Her bomb was deactivated and she was lynched.

In the aftermath of the bombing, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan sent his condolences to the people and government of Kano and urged the nation “to remain united to confront the common enemy”. Pope Francis described the attack as “an extremely serious sin against God”, while the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria described the perpetrators as “agents of darkness who claim to fight in the name of religion”. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the US and UK governments also condemned the attack, expressing their commitment to assist Nigeria in combating the terrorist threat.

The attack on Kano Central Mosque is the latest in a series of bombings by Boko Haram during November. On 28 November, vigilantes in the Borno State capital Maiduguri reportedly discovered a device planted in the Gamboru Market area that was successfully defused. A secondary device that exploded nearby caused no casualties since the area had been cordoned off. On 25 November, at least 45 people died when two female suicide bombers exploded their devices within minutes of each other at Maiduguri’s Monday Market.

On 12 November, one student was killed and at least four people were injured when a device carried by a female suicide bomber exploded prematurely at the Federal College of Education in Kontagora, Niger State. A suicide bombing at the Government Technical Science College in Potiskum, Yobe State, on 10 November is now known to have claimed the lives of 58 students and injured 117. On 3 November, at least 15 people died in a suicide bomb attack on a Shi’a religious ceremony in Potiskum. During the evening of 2 November, Boko Haram gunmen used explosives to blast their way into a prison in Lokoja, Kogi State, freeing over 100 prisoners.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “CSW condemns the attack on Kano Central Mosque and we extend our deepest condolences to the families of every victim of terrorist violence. Once again Boko Haram has targeted worshippers while they were in prayer, violating their right to freedom of religion or belief and demonstrating its total disregard for every creed and for the sanctity of human life. Nigerians must put aside all religious, political and other divisions as a matter of urgency, and unite in the national interest to overcome a murderous sect that poses an existential threat to their nation.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visitwww.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.