Suicide Bomber Hits Airtel and MTN Offices In Kano, 4 Feared Dead - New News

Two suicide bombers drove a rigged car into the Airtel offices and MTN headquarters in Kano before exploding early morning today, killing a yet to identified number of people.

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A source close to joint security forces in the state, told Channels Television that one suicide bomber hit the premises of Airtel on Mallam Kato Square, killing one unidentified person.

“Its impact has affected Singer market which has now been closed down by the joint security forces”, he added.

Bayo Osho, an Airtel staff who survived the attack, said two suicide bombers in separate cars carried out the attack.

He said the first car rammed the gate before a second car, laden with explosives, drove into the building. The driver of the second car then came out and exchanged gunfire with the security personnel before the explosives went off.
Sources also confirmed that another suicide bomber hit the MTN headquarters at Post Office Road about 30 minutes after the attack on Airtel’s office.
 
The area is now completely surrounded by the Joint Task Force (JTF) and movement is restricted in the environ.

Scene of a bomb blast.
| credits: ynaija.com

The Joint Task Force on Saturday said two suicide bombers died in coordinated attacks on MTN and Airtel offices.

An online news portal, Premium Times, reports that the two attacks occurred within five minutes indicating a coordinated effort.

JTF spokesman, Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the death of the bombers to journalists in Kano on Saturday.

Iweha said the first bomber who went to Airtel office succeeded in detonating the bomb which led to the destruction of the office.

He said only the operator of the company’s generator was injured in the attack which took place at about 8:45am

“With the exception of the two bombers, nobody else died in the two coordinated incidents,’’ he said.

He added that the bomber who went to the MTN office was intercepted by security operatives before he could gain entry into the premises at about 8:50 am, adding that he died in the blast instantly.

“The quick response of the troops around the place averted the destruction of the office but the fence was touched in the coordinated attack,” he said.

He said security had been beefed up around the two areas.

Source: PUNCH