Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II yesterday said that Friday’s deadly attack at the Central Mosque at his palace was planned for two months.
Over 120 people were feared dead after two suicide bombers and several gunmen launched the attack during the Juma’at prayers.
The police, however, insisted yesterday that 34 people died and not 125.
The claim contradicts the high number of bodies deposited at mortuaries at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Sir Muhammad Sanusi Specialist Hospital, Sheikh Muhammad Jiddah General Hospital, Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
The Emir, who was out of the country during the attack, visited the scene upon his return on Saturday.
He directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned.
“From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months”, Associated Press (AP) quoted Sanusi as saying, but gave no details.
“I have directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue here”, he said and vowed: “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.”
The Sultan of Sokoto and leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad III, speaking on the attack, at a different forum in Abuja yesterday, said: “those behind all the attacks are not Muslims.
“I do not believe those perpetrating these are Muslims because if they are Muslims they are not professing what Islam teaches”, the Sultan said during the Post-2014 Hajj Conference organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria at the National Mosque, Abuja.
He added: “In the world over, it is the duty and responsibility of government to provide security for the citizenry. This is the time for all the various sects in Islam in this country to rally round one another and bring to an end insurgency in this country”.
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