~Boko Haram Bombings: Igbos Flee Kano~(pic below) Following Friday’s coordinated bombings of parts of Kano, which left over 160 people dead, southerners, especially Igbos, living in Sabon Gari area of the city have besieged a motor park in their bid to flee to their home states. Madu Nmeribeh As early as 8.30 a.m. today, luxury buses were seen loading Igbo passengers at motor park in Sabon Gari area of Kano. Unlike before, when such buses depart in the evening, the buses are billed to leave in the afternoon today. Many travellers were seen milling around the park as they tried to book for their trip to the eastern part of the country. Men who have unfinished businesses or project in Kano have decided to send their families back to their home states. The majority of passengers on board the buses were women and children. And because of this, business activities within Sabon Gari, Kano, have become slow. Those travelling said at the park their regret for being compelled to leave Kano because they no longer felt safe after last Friday’s bomb explosions by Boko Haram. According to them, if the Boko Haram Sect could wreak such havoc on security agencies, it then means that their safety cannot be guaranteed. When reminded one of the travellers, Mr. Emeka Odoh, of the president’s promise to beef up security, he fumed: “How long will Mr. President continue to promise us? It has happened in Maiduguri, Yobe, Kaduna and look at what happened in Kano last Friday, where many people were killed; including my own brother whose corpse cannot be identified yet. “Also, remember what happened on Christmas Day at a Catholic Church in Niger State where parishioners were killed and later the suspect was caught. But what they told us was that he escaped. We can no longer wait, let us go to our home.” Though non-indigenes are afraid of what may happen next, soldiers have already taken over security in Kano. They have been deployed to strategic locations and some are on patrol even as tension is still high. Condemnations have trailed the bombings of Friday. The national president, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji have all decried the attacks. They have also called for concerted fight by all Nigerians against insecurity. Oritsejafor condoled with families of the victims and those injured in the bombings. “I condemn in the strongest terms possible the continued killing of innocent Nigerians for no justifiable reason whatsoever. The blood of these innocent citizens will surely cry out for justice.” On his part, Fashola condoled with the government and people of Kano State as well as the management of Channels Television over the unfortunate loss of lives which occurred as a result of the violent and mindless explosion of bombs in the state on Friday. He asked all well meaning Nigerians to rise up together to find a path of peace for our nation, while urging all aggrieved persons to seek dialogue first rather than as a last resort. Also speaking, Ikuforiji condemned the Kano bombing and condoled with families of the victims, especially the gruesome murder of Channels TV Correspondent in Kano. The Speaker, in a statement said it is very sad, regrettable and most ungodly for any group by whatever name to have killed the journalist in that manner while carrying out his constitutional duties. Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has rained curses on the sect’s members calling down the spirit of God upon them and their sponsors. Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged all Nigerians to respect the sanctity of human life while voicing their grievances, saying last Friday’s multiple blasts that rocked the ancient city of Kano calls for greater concern and sober reflection. Such an act, the Speaker noted in a statement made available , will send wrong signals to the international community that the country is not safe for investors. According to him, the surest way to resolve any differences is through dialogue.