Former Nigerian head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) has said that the second explosion that ripped through Kaduna on Wednesday was an assassination attempt on his life and a mass murder.
Buhari said this in a statement he signed : “I am personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today at 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 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 detonated the bomb which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy.
“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 three of my security staff sustained minor injuries. They have since been treated in hospital and discharged,” the statement read.
It was the deadliest attack of the day in Kaduna where another suicide bomber had attempted to kill a cleric.
Buhari’s son told Reuters that a car full of explosives had hurtled towards Buhari’s convoy at the crowded Kawo marketn narrowly missing its target. A Red Cross official said at least 50 people were killed there.
Buhari riding in an armour-plated sports utility vehicle was not wounded.
A crowd gathered at the scene of the incident until the military dispersed them by firing shots in the air. Smoke rose from another vehicle destroyed in the blast.