Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero Attacked By Terrorists

BARELY 12 hours to the anniversary of 20 January, 2012 gunmen attack in Kano that led to the death of over 200 people, another terrorist act was launched on Saturday on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, in which about six persons dead. However, while the emir was said to have escaped unhurt, his driver and some of his traditional guards were said to have lost their lives.
The Interim Management Officer of Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state was also said to have lost his life in the attack, while two of the traditional ruler’s sons, whose identities were given as the Turakin Kano and the Ciroman Kano, were reported to have sustained injuries.

Unconfirmed reports had it that the terrorists, who came in security uniforms, a battered Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and motorcycles, first threw Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the convoy of Alhaji Bayero before firing gunshots at the vehicles.
The attack was said to have been carried out near Hockey Field on Zoo road by Total Gasoline station at the time the emir was returning from the graduation ceremony of an Islamic school at Macalazi Murtala.
It was also gathered that apart those who fell victim to the attack on the emir’s entourage, many Almajiris who were returning from the occasion of Quranic recitation and Islamic graduation also sustained varying degrees of injuries.
However, a source who pleaded anonymity, said the emir had already left the occasion before the incident occurred.
It will be recalled that rumour was recently doing the rounds in the state that some gunmen were planning to mark the one year anniversary of the gruesome killing of innocent people on 20 January, 2012 today.
They were said to have promised to unleash terror during the anniversary.
Our source hinted that knowing that the emir would be at the Quranic recitation, the gunmen capitalised on the traditional gunshots that always heralded his movement to and arrival at an occasion to launch the attack.
The development was said to have caught the people around unawares, as they could not immediately discern what was happening, adding that before the people could realise that the shots were not from the emir’s guard’s guns, the four gunmen, who were said to have been at alert, had carried out the attack.
In another breath, a different source hinted that it was not the emir’s personal driver that was killed in the attack, but one of those driving his other vehicles, reiterating that the emir had left the occasion before the attack.
Security tightened on Kano roads
However, many of the roads leading to Zoo road had been cordoned off by heavily-armed and fierce looking Joint Task Force (JTF) members preventing people from moving freely into the area.
In the same vein, as of the time of filing this report, the Kano Road Transport Agent (KAROTA) staff were seen towing damaged vehicles abandoned along roads, apparently, as a result of the attack.
Efforts to get comments of both the state police command and the military Joint Task Force (JTF) over the attack proved abortive, as calls made to their spokespersons’ telephone lines did not go through.
Security chiefs look beyond Boko Haram
In the meantime, Sunday Tribune has also gathered that top security chiefs in the country have swung into action following the attack on the Alhaji Bayero after confirmation that investigators are already looking beyond the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as the likely perpetrators.
Sources in security circles confirmed to Sunday Tribune that security agencies, especially the State Security Service (SSS) had immediately swung into action and had concluded that the attack on the respected emir would not be narrowed to just a source.
A source said that the security chiefs were looking into the situation in the Kano Emirate and the possible line of succession to isolate possible cause of tension.
It was gathered that besides looking at Islamic fundamentalism as a possible cause of the attack on the monarch, other sources are being combed with a list of those to be interrogated already drawn up.
“I can assure you that security agencies are not taking the attack lightly. You have to note that the monarch represents a very powerful institution, a respected stool with rich historical background. It is possible; some persons eyeing the stool could hide under the cover of fundamentalism to wreck havoc. That is why no stone is being left unturned,” a source said.
“As early as Monday, some of the big names in question would be interrogated and anyone found culpable would face the wrath of the law,” another source stated, adding that the agencies would not be distracted by any other claims that might be thrown up by other sources.
Arewa, Yuguda condemn attack
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, on Saturday, condemned the attack on Alhaji Bayero, both saying the news came as a rude shock.
Governor Yuguda, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Ishola Michael, said; “I received the sad news with shock, wondering why someone would want to take the life of another person, particularly that of one of the leading royal fathers in Nigeria, who is genuinely and deeply committed to peace and peaceful coexistence.”
The governor, while sympathising with the family of the monarch over the unfortunate incident, also condoled the families of those who lost their lives defending the emir, saying that, “they died in active service laying down their lives for the emir, and may Allah grant the departed aljannatul firdaus and their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
He also sympathised with the government and people of Kano State over the incident, praying God to avert such occurrence in future, just as he wished the royal father quick recovery from the shock and trauma the attack might have caused him.
Yuguda appealed to “well-meaning Nigerians” to expose all bad eggs in their midst because, according to him, “these criminals live among us. We must expose them so that their criminal activities will be stopped and peace will return to Nigeria.”
ACF, in its statement issued and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, said; “the emir, as a custodian of traditional values and culture that inspired peaceful coexistence, harmony and stability, should not reasonably be the target of attacks by any right thinking person or group.
“Consequently, ACF condemns the attacks with all sense of seriousness and concern because violence can never address perceived grievances, however strong we feel about them. May God repose the souls of those who died in the attacks and provide their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.”

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