Explosion at Kano motor park kills five, injures 12

A bomb hidden in a refrigerator exploded yesterday at the New Road Luxury Park in Sabon Gari, Kano, killing five people and injuring 12 others.

The police said only one person died in the park where a bomb killed no fewer than 15 last year – also in July. Boko Haram, the insurgent sect, said it was responsible for that incident.

Yesterday’s blast happened at about 2:30pm when the luxury bus owned by Ifeanyichukwu Industry and Commercial Services Limited, arrived the motor park from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The front of the bus was shattered. Two other buses were damaged by the explosion.

A source at the motor park recounted the explosion. He said: “A luxury bus had just arrived from Port Harcourt. As the bus parked, some passengers were disembarking. We heard a loud bang which devastated the area.

“People started running helter-skelter. We saw five bodies on the ground, and a woman’s head flew off in a different direction. I do not know whether she was a passenger or not.”

A bus conductor, Umar Isah, said he saw a truck-pusher with a fridge inside the truck, pushing it towards the vehicle, “and in a twinkle of an eye, we heard a deafening sound that rocked the whole motor park. The truck-pusher was severely injured in the process.”

Kano State Commissioner of Police Adenrele Shinaba said:  “On arrival, we discovered this luxury bus and damage done to these personal property. All we know is that this luxury bus is getting ready to travel to Port Harcourt.

“In the process of loading the vehicle, one of the trucks that were being pushed was carrying a fridge to be loaded inside the vehicle, and it was from the fridge that the bomb went off. It is presumed that there is  a prime explosive concealed inside the  refrigerator and that is what we are working on for now.

“So far, I want to confirm that one woman is dead; eight others are injured and have been taken to hospitals for treatment. The injuries are not life threatening, and we shall also, in the shortest time, move to the hospital to see  the progress they are making.”

Chief Chris Azuka, the President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in Kano,  condemned the blast, saying it had become a frequent occurrence.

Chief Jerry Agunbiade, Deputy President, Yoruba Community, Kano, said: “I don’t expect a thing like this, because of the security awareness in the park. Already, you have security around, they should have been able to do something and detect the bomb. The government should find  what they can do to put more security.”

Chief Tony Lele Peters, President-General of the South-South Community, said: “It is astonishing that this thing is happening again at the same park, despite the security put in place.