Kano Explosion: Igbos Declare 3-day Mourning, Fasting And Prayer

Kano Explosion: Igbos Declare 3-day Mourning, Fasting And Prayer

The Igbo community in the crisis-ridden city of Kano, Wednesday, commenced three days’ mourning over last Monday’s bomb attack at Sabon Gari bus Park, which left scores of people dead and several others injured

Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Kano, Mr. Tobias Idika who made the announcement yesterday said that during the ‘mourning period’, all Igbos would be expected to remain calm at home while also fasting and praying to God for his intervention.

Commercial activities in the ancient city were temporarily brought to a halt, as all the Igbos did not open their shops while security was also beefed up.

The three-day mourning, which commenced on Wednesday, saw many schools, shops in the Sabon Gari area of the city under lock and key.

According to Idika, “what happened was a calamity and we must fast and pray to God that such a thing will not happen again.”

Speaking further, Mr. Idika stated that the Igbo community was opposed to the plans by the state government to conduct a mass burial for the victims of the blast. The state government had argued that some of the victims were burnt completely beyond recognition as their relations could not identify them.

However, Ndigbo have been advised against avenging the terrorist attack. Making the plea yesterday, the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in a statement by its President, Evang Elliot Uko said any form of retaliation would aid the terrorists in achieving their goal of setting Nigeria on fire.

His words: “It has become necessary for the Igbo Youth Movement to sound a note of warning to individuals and groups who are planning demonstrations and rallies of any kind against the Kano bus station bomb blasts, to sheathe their swords immediately.

“These planned protest march could get out of hand. Properties could be damaged and lives lost. We do not reply to the Kano bloodshed with more bloodshed. Painful and regrettable as the bombings were, we call on Ndigbo all over Nigeria to show restraint and maturity at this time.

“Doing otherwise will amount to eventually achieving the aim of the anarchists who bombed those buses. Their agenda is to deliberately provoke Ndigbo to revenge and kick-off mayhem that would lead to an uncontrollable conflagration. Do we play into their hands? Who benefits if Nigeria is set on fire. We plead with all aggrieved Ndigbo to remain calm and cautious.”

“We assure Nigerians and the international community that Ndigbo will not go to war neither will our people descend upon innocent northerners in our midst. It is not in our nature. Boko Harm will be defeated. We will overcome,” the statement added.

Also, the Aka Ikenga, the Igbo intellectual think-thank described the incident as a senseless and barbaric, calling on well-meaning individuals to condemn the attack.

Aka-Ikenga President, Chief Goody Uwazuruike said: “We call on all men and women of goodwill to rise up and condemn this horrendous crime. It should be noted that the only tonic evil needs to grow is for leaders of any type to sit on the fence. History or posterity will never forgive any one who chose to remain silent in the face of evil. Those in authority should rise up in defence of our right to life and freedom of movement and religion. Only a man who has never tasted war hungers for it. Do not forget that insecurity is an evil wind that blows no one any good. Go to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria and see what has become of them.”