More deaths as Bauchi and Kaduna are attacked

On Friday night, 11 persons were killed while 14 injured when gunmen attacked a hotel in Bauchi, Bauchi State. A total of 54 persons were killed in Bauchi and Kaduna States in separate attacks on Friday and Saturday.

The attack on Saturday according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, took place at Peoples Hotel, Bayan Gari, he told NAN.

He said corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, while the injured were receiving treatment at the same hospital.

An eyewitness, Ahmed Maidoki, told NAN that five persons in military uniform carried out the attack by detonating explosives and shooting at random.

“We were just sitting down, watching highlights of the ongoing FIFA World Cup at the viewing centre located in between the two-storey building of the hotel when five men dressed in military uniform strolled in.

“We thought they were security personnel, who came to relax as well. I noticed they all positioned themselves at the four corners of the hall.

According to him, an explosion followed, after which the arena was covered with thick smoke. He further said he and his friends sprawled on the ground, shivering.

“We were trying to get out when the men started shooting sporadically at any one who tried to stand up, and in the process, killing many of the survivors of the blast,” he said.

Another eyewitness, Usman Hassan, said he was just about to enter the hotel when the blast occurred and immediately ran away from the scene.

“As soon as I was a bit far from the scene, I heard gun-shots. Few minutes later, a white Toyota Hilux vehicle zoomed out of the hotel on high speed with men wearing army uniforms,” he said.

The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Lawal Shehu, on Saturday said one suspect had been arrested in connection with the attack.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest made, Lawal said the suspect was being interrogated and efforts intensified to apprehend his accomplices that fled.

This is one too many killings. I keep asking, when will all this stop. Too many Nigerians are been killed for no other reason but politics. What a big shame.