Editor’s Note: Our eyewitness(es) accounts were gleaned from major newspapers across the country. All credits goes to them.
- 2 Professors Confirmed Dead
- Mother of a Baby Being Dedicated Confirmed Dead
- Scores Injured
- Students Explores Boycott of Lectures
Seventy-one-year-old Professor Emmanuel Olofin, a professor of Geography at the Bayero University, Kano, was at the hall where Catholics had gathered to worship. He shares his story with Martin Ayankola.
“It was like this. We use the Indoor Sports Hall of the university for our services. Usually, we start mass at 8am but today (Sunday) we started a bit late because we were making some arrangements.
“We started at about 10 minutes after 8am. At about 8.15am we started hearing sounds of gunshots and pellets falling on the roof of the building.
“Then, the Reverend Father asked, ‘What is happening?’ After that, there was pandemonium, we all rushed out and people were trying to cross over to Kabuga, a nearby settlement. It was mostly gunshots but I think they were also throwing grenades.
“Some people jumped over the eight-foot fence, while some decided to take the pedestrian exit that leads to Kabuga. I believe that most of the people that died were those who took the pedestrian exit because it seemed as if the attackers used the pedestrian gate to gain entrance.
“I jumped over the fence and eventually took refuge under a tree. I was in my place of refuge, when I heard a siren wailing at about 10 am. I think that was when the Police came.
“Right now, I have been able to confirm about six of our people dead. I know of Profs Jerome Ayodele and Leo Ogbonyomi, who died. I also know of a senior non-academic employee of the university,Mr. Sylvester Adah, who died.
“How a 71-year-old man could have jumped over a fence? It was the grace of God!”
‘I was preaching when the attackers arrived’
Professor Julius Falola, a professor of Geography, was at the centre where Protestant worshippers were attacked. He spoke to Martin Ayankola.
“We, those of us who belong to a protestant group, Chapel of Victory, were holding our own service at an open ground, under the tree, close to the Faculty of Medicine.
“We started the service at about 7.30am. At about 8.15am, when I had just started preaching the day’s sermon, I sighted a group of men advancing towards where we were.
“Initially, they did not look suspicious, but suddenly, a shot was fired directly at the congregation and subsequently several shots followed.
“The attack was simultaneous, as they were attacking us, they were attacking the Catholic group worshipping in the Indoor Sports Hall. I could not say the number of the attackers. One could not wait, everybody ran.
“Some jumped over the fence while others ran deeper into the campus. I also escaped to the university clinic.
“The shooting went on for about 45 minutes. At about the 46th minute, I heard the wailing of the siren, I think the soldiers and police arrived about that time.”
“The attackers were firing gunshots and throwing hand grenades. Some of our members sustained injuries and right now, we could not ascertain the number of casualties.”
Punch
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A 400 level Accounting student who was shot in the hands said the attack was carried out at the centre of the Open Theatre meant for the interdenominational service.
She, however, said there was no explosion, saying she only saw the gunmen shooting as well as throwing IEDs.
“This caused pandemonium, making many worshippers to run helter-skelter. Though initially the sound was taken for that of a burst tyre, but when the shooting was sporadic, we later discovered it was gunshots,” she narrated.
Nigerian Tribune
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The two dons believed to have died in the attack were Professors M .T. Ayodele of the Chemistry Department and Andrew Leo of the Library Department.
Equally killed were Mr. Sylvester Ada, who is state president of an Idoma socio -cultural society within the Catholic church, known as “SS Peter and Paul”. A Chief lecturer in the Federal College of Education (FEC), Kano, Dr. (Mrs) Ololobo, also died in the attack.
An Ogoja lady, who is married to an Idoma man that lectures at the FEC also died in the attack. The deceased, whose name could not be established by Press time, was performing her child’s dedication at the church, said a source, who noted that her child was picked up at the gate of the university after the incident.
“Today was her child’s dedication. She went with the baby, but never came back”, he stressed.
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An eyewitness told The Guardian yesterday that he counted 15 bodies being taken out of the scene of the attacks, which occurred at 9.30 a.m. He claimed that the assailants used explosives and sophisticated weapons during the siege.
The eyewitness, who claimed to be a member of staff of BUK and was on duty during the violence, said: “At least, I counted 15 dead bodies as they were being evacuated from the scene of the attack. What we heard was that they threw explosives in small containers into the theatre when the worshippers were praying.
“So, many of the worshippers were scared and ran for safety but they were shot at by the gunmen who had laid ambush for them outside the hall,” he said.
The official claimed the bodies were taken to the morgue of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
The Guardian
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Informed sources have however informed LEADERSHIP that among the dead were Dr. Sylvester Ada of Information Science department. Other victims include four doctors as well as post-graduate and undergraduate students of the university and other church faithful.
The eyewitness said the gunmen, numbering about 20, came in motorcycles popularly called achaba and attacked the faithful while they were holding a service at 8.45am in a lecture theatre at the old site of the university.
The witness disclosed that members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) later arrived at the scene of the attack and engaged the attackers in a gun battle. It was not clear whether any of the assailants was killed or arrested.
Another eyewitness claimed that no fewer than 20 people died in the attack. He said that the bandits came in a motorcycle and first lobbed two hand grenades inside the sports complex prayer venue then targeted the members of the congregation who were scampering for safety.
Leadership
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Mohammed Suleiman, a history lecturer at the university, said security guards had to run for dear lives when the violence broke out.
“For over 30 minutes, a series of bomb explosions and gun shots took over the campus, around the academic blocks,” he said.
“I counted at least 15 bodies. I think they were being taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH.”
National Mirror
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