The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter arm of Boko Haram (Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād) has claimed responsibility for the Saturday night killing of two Igbo businessmen in Kano State, Northwest Nigeria.
Gunmen on Saturday night killed Ifeanyi Elechukwu, aged 41, who was the target of the attack and his friend, Chibuille Emmanuel, 33, who was shot in the leg, but eventually died at a private clinic.
However, ISWAP in a statement said the attack was carried out by “soldiers of the caliphate,” describing Elechukwu as a Nigerian Army spy.
The gruesome killing of the duo has brought fear among the residents of Sabon Garri of Kano metropolis.
The incident, according to witnesses, occurred at about 8.50 pm Saturday night, after the deceased, who was a battery dealer at Shop No. 25, Court Road by New Road, was said to have been invited to the shop by his assailant who posed as a customer.
While the two deceased persons were shot at close range along Court Road by Niger Road in Sabon – garri, the gunmen who appeared to have trailed them to the spot, sped off immediately after the attack.
The Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police, Kano State, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the death of the two traders and disclosed that the Police had commenced full investigation into the tragic incident.
In the meantime, the gun attack has further triggered off security concerns in the State as many places of worship were manned by heavy security presence during the service hours on Sunday.
It would be recalled that the Kano State government, as a part of security concerns, has recently barred commercial tri-cyclists from operating beyond 10.00pm in the night.