KANO // At least 21 people were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up among crowds at a Shiite procession outside the northern Nigerian city of Kano.
The attack happened in the village of Dakasoye in Kano state during a march by followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
“We lost 21 people and several others have been injured,” said Muhammad Turi, one of the organisers.
On its website, the group, which is led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, said the blast happened at 2pm local time and that “scores” had been killed.
Another organiser said the bomber ran into the crowd before he could be spotted and detonated his explosives.
“He was dressed in black like everyone else. His accomplice was initially arrested and confessed they were sent by Boko Haram,” the organiser said.
“They were part of the young men abducted by Boko Haram in [the Borno state town of] Mubi last year and taken to Sambisa Forest where they were given some military training.
“They were sent to Kano 11 days ago and kept in a house specifically for this attack.”
The bomber detonated his explosives after realising his accomplice had been arrested, the organiser added.
Boko Haram has previously been blamed for attacks on Shiites in the region.
Last November at least 15 people were killed and some 50 others injured in a suicide bombing targeting the Shiite festival of Ashura in the city of Potiskum, in Yobe state.
In April, a suicide bomber targeted a group of Shiites outside an open-air mosque, also in Potiskum. He killed himself and wounded three worshippers.
Boko Haram, whose six-year insurgency has left at least 17,000 dead and made more than 2.6 million homeless, condemns Shiites as heretics who should be killed.
Those taking part in Friday’s procession were on a “symbolic trek” from Kano to Zaria, in neighbouring Kaduna state, where Sheikh Zakzaky is based, to mark the 40th day of Ashura.
* Agence France-Presse
