2014 Kano Central Mosque Attack: Victims Urge Government To Fulfill Promises

Five years after the November 28th 2014 Kano Friday mosque attack by suspected Boko Haram members that killed hundreds of worshippers and wounded hundred others, some victims are yet to receive the promised assistance made to them by Kano state government for their treatment.

Solacebase recalled that gunmen set off three bombs and opened fire on worshippers at the central mosque on Friday, killing hundreds of people, in an attack that bore the hallmarks of  Boko Haram insurgents.

In a chat with Solacebase, chairman of the victims’ committee Malam Rufa’I Kabara revealed that after the incidence over 600 victims were verified by Kano state government during an exercise held at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital.

According to him, the state government disbursed N85.5 million to some victims with the promise to continue with the assistance as it verifies victims.

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Solacebase recalled that after the incident, several organisations and state government donated funds to the government so as to give succour to the victims with the state government commitment to offset the medical bills of the victims.

However Chairman of the victims’ committee Malam Rufa’I Kabara noted that some of the victims’ condition deteriorated while many have died due to lack of assistance to seek treatment.

“Government disbursed N64.1 million to the first batch of victims of 171 the second batch of 118 victims received the assistance of N21.4 million making a total of 289 victims. The criteria were that those that lost their relatives received N500, 000 and those wounded received N100, 000; I lost a 7-year-old child and I was given N500, 000.’’

‘’However, some of these victims are now living in miserable conditions because nothing has been done to them even though the government had promised to assist them. That is why at the committee level we are pleading with the government to fulfil its promise,” he pleaded.

However, Malam Sadiq Sunusi and his son were not that lucky, because after sustaining serious injuries and a fracture Malam Sadiq is yet to receive anything from the government likewise his son who equally sustained serious injuries.

“With family and friends support I undergo surgery at National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala,  and my son was hospitalized for months. We both attended the verification held at Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital, but we have not received anything in term of assistance and there are many victims like me who have not. I want to plead with the state government to kindly consider the promise it made to us,”  Malam Sadiq pleaded.

Another victim Malam Ishaq Mandawari who was shot in the leg during the 28th November attack told Solacebase that he has received N100, 000, adding that there are many presently suffering from the attack and yet received nothing.

When Solacebase contacted the Secretary to Kano State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, our correspondent was directed to speak with the Commissioner for Enviroment, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso who heads the victims’ support committee, however, several calls put to him was not attended to nor did he replied a text message sent to him.