More than 100 people died in an attack on a Nigerian mosque on Friday, local government and hospital officials say.
The president of Nigeria has vowed “to leave no stone unturned” in tracking down the perpetrators of the gun and bomb attack during Friday’s prayers in the northern city of Kano.
Goodluck Jonathan urged the nation “to confront the common enemy”.
No-one has so far claimed the attack but officials say it bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram militant group.
Kano’s Central Mosque, where the attack took place, is where the influential Muslim leader, the emir of Kano, usually leads prayers.
Emir Muhammed Sanusi had recently called for people to arm themselves against Boko Haram, and there have been suggestions that the attack was in response to that call.
However, on Saturday the emir dismissed the claims, saying it must have taken at least two months to plan the attack. He made the comments during a visit to the mosque.
Boko Haram, a Sunni Islamist group, has been waging an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009 and has killed more than 2,000 people this year, human rights groups say.
At the scene: Will Ross, Nigeria correspondent
It is a scene of absolute devastation inside the oldest mosque in Kano.
The attack has caused a lot of anger in the city.
Out on the streets there is still tension. There are police moving around and occasionally people running helter-skelter not knowing quite what is going on. It is a city on edge.
To give an idea of the level of anger – three of the gunmen were actually overpowered when they were shooting worshippers outside the mosque and they were beaten and burnt to death on the spot.
‘Common enemy’
President Jonathan ordered the country’s security services “to launch a full-scale investigation and to leave no stone unturned until all agents of terror undermining the right of every citizen to life and dignity are tracked down and brought to justice”.
A number of the injured are being treated at Kano’s hospital
He said Nigerians should “remain united to confront the common enemy”.
The government, he said, would “continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism”.
Three bomb explosions were reported in and around the mosque. The attackers also shot at worshippers.
Source: BBC