Kaduna Explosions: Buhari Alleges Assassination Attempt …Jonathan, PDP Thank God For Sparing Buhari, Bauchi

A former Head of State
and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammed Buhari (rtd) has alleged that one of the two explosions that ripped through parts of Kaduna, in Kaduna State on Wednesday was meant to eliminate him.
At least 70 people were killed in the two explosions. The first explosion targeted a popular Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, while the second targeted Buhari.
Both men, however, escaped unhurt in the blasts that forced the Kaduna State Government to impose a 24- hour curfew on the city. But dozens of people were injured and over 50 cars damaged in the two incidents  that occurred within two hours interval, one at the busy Alkali Road and another at the Kano area of the city, near the 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army.
The State police command  put  the death toll at 40, while the National Information Centre, said 14 people were injured. Among the injured were Buhari’s body  guards and an aide.
While Bauchi’s convoy was attacked by a  lone bomber who, according to eyewitness, rode on a motorbike  and followed the cleric’s  convoy, after delivering a Ramadan lecture (Tafsir) at the Murtala Square, Buhari’s convoy was attacked two hours later at about 2.30pm at the Kawo area of Kaduna on his way to his  home town, Daura in Katsina State.
Buhari’s Toyota Prado Jeep was particularly hit along with other cars in his convoy, by a suspected bomber who made many unsuccessful attempts to overtake Buhari’s security  car and in the process detonated the explosives at his convoy.
Buhari, in  a statement he personally signed, alleged an attempt to assassinate him.
He said he was on his way to Daura in Katsina State when the bomber attacked his convoy at about 2.30 pm, adding that his security details were affected by the blasts, but “I came out unhurt”.
The statement read, “I was personally involved in a clearly targeted  bomb attack today (Wednesday) at about 2.30 pm on my way to Daura.
“The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car, but was blocked by an escort vehicle.
“We reached the market area of Kano where he took advantage of our slowing down  and attempted to ram my car and instantly detonated the bomb which  destroyed all the three cars in our convoy.
“Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I  saw many dead bodies littered around. They were innocent people going about their daily business who became victims of a mass murder.
“Thank God for  His Mercy, I came out unhurt, but with three of my security aides sustaining minor injuries. They have since been treated in a hospital and discharged”.
However, President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the bombings and thanked God for  sparing  Buhari and Bauchi’s lives, while also extended condolences to the families of those who were killed by the bomb blasts.
President Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati denounced the “dastardly targeting of the prominent  political and religious  leaders by terrorists  and enemies  of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame  passions and exacerbate  disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country”.
He said he had directed the police and other security agencies to take all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday that it was  now apparent  that terrorists  were capable of attacking anybody  in the country.
The PDP in a statement  signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, condemned the  attacks, describing  them as dastardly and  unfortunate.
The party joined other well meaning Nigerians in mourning the dead and thanking God for saving the lives of Gen. Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi whose  convoys were affected in the incidents.

Boye Salau

Rivers State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya (middle), cutting the tape to commission APC Secretariat in Okrika. With him are Chairman, CTC, Okrika Local Government Area, Dr Godknows Tam George (left), State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker and APC leader in Okrika, Mr D. D. Alabere (first right). Photo: Egberi A. Sampson