Kano Mayhem: President Jonathan, Gov. Uduaghan Condole With Channels TV, Others ...As Death Toll Hits 20

Source: huhuonline.com

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his condolences to all victims of the multiple bomb blasts and acts of violence which rocked the city of Kano on Friday, in which about 200 lives have been lost and many wounded.

 
The President also condoled with the management and staff of Channels Television, as one of the casualty in the incident was a reporter with Channels Television in Kano, Mr Enenche Akogwu. Mr Akogwu was reportedly shot and killed while on duty during the exchange of fire between men and officers of the Nigeria Police and the terrorists at the Farm Centre Police Station, Kano.

 
President Jonathan who said he was greatly saddened by the incident which led to the loss of lives of innocent Nigerians, pledged to get to the root of the incident while assuring the management and staff of Channels Television which lost its Kano-based correspondent and indeed all Nigerians, that those behind these acts of terrorism would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

 
He commended the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm for living up to its constitutional and noble responsibility in these critical times and assured all journalists that 'the Federal Government will continue to partner with the media in a robust and patriotic manner in the drive to build, institute and sustain the administration's transformational values and programmes for our dear country and indeed Nigerians."

 
The President, according to a statement issued by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), commended the media for its historic role in protecting constitutional democracy and the rule of Law in Nigeria and promised to ensure that those who lost their lives in the Kano incident do not die in vain as those behind the acts of violence will be apprehended and speedily dealt with in accordance with the Laws of the land.

 
The President said: 'It is with a heart  full of sadness  and pain that I convey my condolences on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to  the families, friends, associates and relatives of all those who lost their lives in the acts of violence in Kano on Friday. These are honest and patriotic Nigerians who were brutally and recklessly cut down by agents of terror.

 
'As a responsible Government, we will not fold our hands and watch enemies of democracy, for that is what these mindless killers are, perpetrate unprecedented evil in our land. I want to re-assure Nigerians, the international Community, and members of the fourth estate of the realm, who lost one of their colleagues and reporter with Channels Television that all those involved in that dastardly act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.'

 
In the same vein, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has condoled with the management and Staff of Channels Television over the death of the station's Kano correspondent, Enenche Akogwu in the wake of sectarian violence that hit the Northern city of Kano on Friday.

 
In a condolence statement issued in Asaba by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sunny Ogefere, the Governor decried the manner in which the correspondent was killed in his prime.

 
According to the Governor, 'it is sad and disheartening that a defenceless young man can be brutally murdered in cold blood while performing his official duties lawfully'.

 
He remarked that the killing of Enenche and other victims of the violence in Kano as well as parts of the country underscores the need for Nigerians, irrespective of ethno-religious and political leanings to rally behind President Goodluck Jonathan to effectively tackle the security challenges facing the country.

 
Dr Uduaghan particularly urged the management and staff of Channels Television as well as the Enenche family to take solace in the fact that the late journalist within his short stay on earth was diligent, hardworking and courageous even to death. The Governor prayed God Almighty to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

 
Meanwhile, about 200 persons have been confirmed dead in the co-ordinated multiple bombings and sporadic shooting of security personnel in Kano on Friday. A hospital official disclosed that 143 people had been killed while an unnamed Red Cross source said that 121 bodies had been removed from the streets by Friday afternoon.

 
'We have been receiving dead bodies since last night from relief agencies involved in the evacuation of bodies,' an official at the city's main morgue said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give out figures.

 
'At this moment, we have 162 bodies in the morgue, and this figure may change because bodies are still being brought,' he added.

 
A police source on condition of anonymity said dozens were killed. 'There are heavy casualties around the police headquarters,' the source said. 'A lot of civilians have been shot by the attackers. It's difficult to give a death toll, but the number of the dead runs into dozens.'