Death toll in Nigeria attack rises to 18

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Some 18 people, including two professors, were killed in Sunday morning's attack on Christian worshippers at the old campus of the Bayero University in Nigeria's northern city of Kano, the local Leadership newspaper reported, quoting eyewitnesses who saw rescue workers removing the bodies.

The paper identified the professors as Jerome Ayodele of the Univeristy's Chemistry Department and Andrew Leo of Library Science department.

The Police have so far confirmed only eight dead, while University Spokesman Mustapha Zahradeen said only seven persons died.

An unspecified number of people are said to be injured and receiving treatment at the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching in the city.

The gunmen, numbering about half a dozen, stormed the univeristy as early as 8.30 am local time and headed to the theatre where Christian students normally worship on Sundays.

They first lobbed explosives into the theatre before gunning down worshippers who tried to escape.

However, when troops of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the city arrived at the scene, the attackers had fled.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it has similarities with similar attacks by the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram.

The sect killed 185 people in coordinated attacks on Kano city in January, according to the police.

Nigeria's top military chief, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, said the sect had killed over 1,200 people since it launched its violent campaign in 2009, following the extra-judicial killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, by security agents.
-0- PANA SEG 29April2012