How suicide bomber disguised as Shi’ite Muslim before killing 20 in Kano

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, which comprises members of the Shi’ite ideology, has given insight into how a suicide bomber disguised as one of its members and blew himself up during a procession in Kano, killing 20 people.

Members of the group were on their annual Arba’een symbolic trek from Kano to Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah ground in Zaria, Kaduna State, when the bomber struck.

The media team leader of the 2015 Arba’een symbolic trek, Ibrahim Usman, in a statement, said the incident occurred at Dakasoye village area of Garun Mallam local goverment Kano state on Friday, at around 2:30pm.

Mr. Usman said 20 people died from the blast, while several others were injured.

In a separate statement posted on the website of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Mr. Usman said there were two bombers in the midst of the trekkers, but one was apprehended before he could detonate his explosive vest.

“Sign of the incident was first reported when a suspected bomber was arrested with a round of bomb belt tied to his waist in Kura town,” the statement said.

He said upon interrogation, the arrested bomber confessed that two of them were sent from Mubi in Adamawa State to Sambisa and finally Gwammaja Quarters in Kano on a suicide mission to kill Shi’ites during the Arba’een trek.

“While manhunt for the second bomber on the loose was going on, the bomber detonated the bomb among the trekkers.

“Scores of Brothers and Sister, including children were killed. Among the dead was the bomber whose only remain was his chest and head,” the statement said.

The statement added that two leaders of the movement Muhammad Turi and Sayyed Mustapha who arrived the scene, ordered evacuation of the dead and injured to ease traffic congestion.

The statement added that the symbolic trek had since continued as normal.

Witnesses had earlier told our reporter that 10 persons died and 27 others were injured.

Giving further insight on why members of the Shiite group undertook the symbolic trek, Mr. Usman said the procession is carried out annually to commemorate the 40th day of Ashura, as a mark of mourning the killing of Imam Husain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, by the army of Yazid, son of Mu’awiyyah in 61 AH.

He said the trekkers would finally converge at Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah in Zaria on December 3 for the grand Arba’een lecture by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.

Meanwhile, the Kano State leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Muhammad Turi, has ordered the continuation of the procession, saying that no amount of threat would deter them.