Kano Rocked By Multiple Bomb Blasts-FT

Sahara Reporters

20 January 2012

Kano Rocked By Multiple Bomb Blasts-FT

Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city, was rocked by multiple bomb blasts on Friday, raising fears that an Islamist insurrection concentrated in remote northeastern parts of the country is spreading across the predominately Muslim north.

Residents of the sprawling ancient city said they heard at least 20 separate blasts, and that there were shoot-outs in some neighbourhoods. Motorists struggled to head home.

Police headquarters in the city was targeted in one attack, according to police spokesmen. Police said a separate bomb hit the passport office, Reuters reported. There was no word initially on the number of casualties.

The fresh violence puts additional pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan’s beleaguered administration, which was forced this week to reinstate partially a fuel subsidy following nationwide protests and a general strike that threatened oil production.