150 killed in attacks in Northern Nigeria state: official
KANO. January 23. KAZINFORM Officials of northern Nigeria 's Kano State government said on Saturday that about 150 persons lost their lives in Friday's terrorist attacks which rocked the state capital of Kano; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
State Commissioner of Information Faruk Umar told Xinhua that the death toll was arrived at after early morning mopping up operations by rescue and aid agencies.
However, a source with the Red Cross told Xinhua on Saturday that the death toll from Friday's coordinated attacks in Kano has risen to 120.
According to the Red Cross official, the figure was recorded from the affected areas, noting that 52 persons were injured. State secretary for the organization Musa Abdulahi said they picked corpses around the affected areas.
The northwest coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) responsible for disaster and emergency management in Nigeria Musa said that it is working with some government agencies to confirm the actual casualty figure.
The attacks are believed to be the work of members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
A Xinhua reporter in the restive city of Kano said the dead bodies have been deposited at both the Murtala Muhammed Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, adding that most of the injured are also being treated at the two hospitals.
The state government also directed all hospitals in the state to treat all victims of Friday's Boko Haram attacks free and give them maximum medical attention.
In a statement the government condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and sympathized with those who sustained injuries while assuring that security agencies would continue to do their best to safeguard the lives and property of the residents of the state.
The statement said that when the security situation improved the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state would be relaxed or completely lifted.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday conveyed his condolences on behalf of the federal government to the families, friends, associates and relatives of all those who lost their lives
The Nigerian leader also condoled with the management and staff of the Channels Television on the death of reporter Enenche Akogwu.
The president also reassured the international community that the federal government would bring those involved in the act to justice; Kazinform cites Xinhua.
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