Govt condemns attack, offers to pay victims’ bills

Residents outside the New Road bus station, Sabon Gari, Kano... on Tuesday

Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described as barbaric, criminal and anti-Islam, Monday’s suicide attack on a 59-seater Lagos-bound luxury bus, which left over 60 people dead.

The governor said the perpetrators were criminals and not representing any religion.

At the end of his visit to injured victims on their sick beds at various hospitals in Kano on Tuesday, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who represented the state governor, said the attack was very unfortunate, describing it as inhuman and ungodly.

During the visit, the state government promised to pay the medical bills of those injured in the suicide attack in the Sabon Gari area, which is predominantly occupied by non-residents.

He said, “We have been working round the clock to ensure that the injured victims are saved and we are also doing our best to make sure that they are safe and alive by the grace of God.

“We have been going round to assess the situation and condition of those in the hospitals and medical doctors have been given adequate instruction to save the lives of the survivors by putting in their best in this situation for speedy recovery.

“Government is determined to ensure that these victims are safe.

“This incident is unfortunate; you can see that it is a calamity.

“Those who committed this crime are barbaric and criminals and it’s a condemnable act; they are not representing any religion, they are just on their own. Islam doesn’t allow this kind of act.”

Also, the state governor explained that the attack exposed the disadvantage of citing a motor park in the heart of the city.

Meanwhile, traditional Leaders Forum in Kano has ordered a sit at home on Wednesday (today) as a day of mourning and for prayers and fast for all the non-indigenes, who were victims of the bomb attack.

In a statement, in Kano on Tuesday, all non-indigenes in Kano were requested to close their shops and other places of business  to enable them to offer prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed .

It reminded all non-indigenous community to use the work free day to mourn all those who lost their lives during the attack.

PUNCH