Boko Haram Attacks Kano State, Nigeria, Scores Dead,Many injured

The Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, known popularly as the 'boko haram', have claimed responsibility for the multiple attacks on formations of security agencies across Kano state.

Speaking by phone, the group claimed that the attacks were in response to the refusal of the Kano state government to release some of their members who had been arrested in the state.

They said they were forced to resort to the attacks after an open letter they had sent late in 2011 to the Governor of Kano state, Mal. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero had gone unheeded.

Daily Trust earlier confirmed that the attack at the Zone 1 Police headquarters was carried out by a suicide bomber driving a Honda Civic.

The bomber had succeeded in breaking through the gates of the building and rammed the car into the wall of a vocational centre in which wives of Police officer learn sewing.

The building is adjacent to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1. It was completely destroyed. According to one of the victims, he saw at least 3 dead bodies lying around.

At least 30 others suffering from varying degrees of injuries have been taken to different hospitals across the state. The whole area has been cordoned off.

Gunmen also stormed the headquarters of the State Police Command in Bompai and engaged the policemen there in a drawn out gun duel. Casualty figures are not yet known.

A second blast is said to have gone off at the SSS headquarters after a first blast caused the security agents to cordon off the immediate vicinity of their office.

There have also been reports of an explosion at a motor park along New Road in Sabon Gari area and another Police station at Yar'akwa along Zaria road.
This adds to the number of explosions and gun attacks which have been rocking the city this evening.

Earlier Daily Trust had reported the attacks on the Immigrations office at Farm Centre and the first and second explosions at the SSS headquarters along Sardauna Crescent.

Casualty figures from these sites are not yet known.

At the SSS headquarters, it is claimed that one of the attackers was killed and a second arrested in an earlier attack.

Other sources report more explosions and our reporters on the ground are compiling all confirmed locations.