President Buhari narrates how he escaped bomb attack in Kaduna

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he narrowly escaped being killed by a bomb near the Kawo bridge, while travelling to Kaduna State in July 2014.

The president is in the state again to inaugurate some projects initiated by the Nasir el-Rufai-led Kaduna government.

A combined team of heavily armed soldiers and the police were deployed to strategic locations across the city ahead of the president’s visit.

Speaking after he inaugurated the remodelled Kawo overhead bridge along Zaria road, the president narrated how he narrowly escaped being killed in the area eight years back.

According to president Buhari, he said:

“they wanted to blow me. But my escort somehow stopped them. Before we came to this bridge they became so desperate and there was a small market or something like this here.”

“They detonated the device. God protected us and here I am again. Thank you very much your Excellency and remarkably you became my governor.”

As part of the visit to Kaduna, President Buhari also commissioned the ultra-modern sports and shopping complex at Murtala Square Kaduna, where he reiterated the likelihood of staying in Kaduna after he leaves office.

Speaking while commissioning the project, the president commended the foresight and developmental strides of the El-Rufai administration, pointing out that Kaduna would be difficult for a long time visitor to recognise.

Earlier, President Buhari who arrived in Kaduna on Wednesday was in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna where he appreciated the numerous projects he commissioned and thanked the governor for building good roads and other infrastructural projects in rural parts of the state.

Buhari and his entourage led by Governor El-Rufai are expected to be in Zaria in continuation of the project commissioning.