Abuja, Jan 22 (PTI): A 23-year-old Indian national was killed and six of his compatriots, including two children, were injured in a wave of coordinated bombings and gun attacks by an Islamic sect that left at least 162 people dead in northern Nigeria's largest city of Kano. Kevalkumar Kalidas Rajput from Dahod in Gujarat, who worked for Kano-based firm M/s Relchem, was among those killed in Friday's deadly attacks, a statement issued by the High Commission of India in Nigeria said today. It said Rajput and two of his co-employees from Nepal, Hari Prasad Bhusal and Raj Singh, lost their lives when their car entered a zone of hostilities. The High Commission said six other Indian nationals, including two small children, belonging to two families have received injuries from falling shrapnel and debris and are being treated in Kano hospitals.
On Friday, militants shot at residents and security personnel and bombed security services offices in Kano, the second most populated city in Nigeria. In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna condemned the deadly attacks in Kano and regretted the unfortunate loss of life. The families of the Indian killed and those injured in the attacks have been contacted by authorities. Hospital sources in Nigeria said 162 bodies were piled up in a mortuary at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in Kano a day after the attacks, which were claimed to have been carried out by Islamic sect Boko Haram which is seeking imposition of 'Sharia' law in the country. They added that the number of the dead may increase because more bodies are being brought in from different parts of the city.
On Friday, militants shot at residents and security personnel and bombed security services offices in Kano, the second most populated city in Nigeria. In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna condemned the deadly attacks in Kano and regretted the unfortunate loss of life. The families of the Indian killed and those injured in the attacks have been contacted by authorities. Hospital sources in Nigeria said 162 bodies were piled up in a mortuary at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in Kano a day after the attacks, which were claimed to have been carried out by Islamic sect Boko Haram which is seeking imposition of 'Sharia' law in the country. They added that the number of the dead may increase because more bodies are being brought in from different parts of the city.