General
Mohammadu BUHARI narrowly escaped death today in Kaduna!
on his convoy
in Kaduna, describing it as a clear assassination attempt.
The blast occurred at two different parts of the state. One at the
Alkali/Isa Kaita road in the highbrow area of the state while the second
one occurred near the Kawo bridge, close the 1. Mechanised Division of
the Nigerian Army, Kaduna State.
In the second blast, a suicide bomber targeted the convoy of Buhari and hauled the explosive device on his convoy.
It was learnt that one of the cars in the convoy was badly damaged
while the car (Prado Jeep) conveying the former Head of State was
torched.
An eyewitness said: “The suicide bomber hauled the explosive on the
convoy of the former head of state but one of the cars in the convoy was
hit and the Prado jeep of Buhari was hit. His bodyguards and escorts
had to move Buhari from his car into another car (Sienna) to take him
away.”
Another version said the suicide bomber, who rode in a Sienna car rammed into the convoy of the former Head of State.
“In fact, the car in the convy was badly damaged. Buhari escaped
narrowly. We doubt whether some of his security operatives were alive,”
he said.
More than 50 cars were damaged in the second blast, according to the eyewitness.
Also, in the first blast which took place along Alkali/Isa Kaita road
occurred at about 12.30pm while the second one was near the Kawo
overhead bridge and occurred two hours later.
Read Buhari’s statement below:
“I was
personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today along Ali
Akilu Road, Kawo – Kaduna about 2:30pm 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 my escort vehicle. We reached the market area of Kawo
where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram my car
and instantly denoted the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our
convoy. Continue…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 mass murder.
Thank
God for His mercy, I came out unhurt but with three of my security
staff sustaining minor injuries – they have been treated in hospital and
discharged.
Signed: General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) GCFR”