A professor in the Library Department of the Bayero University Kano, Prof. Andrew Leo Ogbonyomi, and another in the Chemistry Department, Prof. Jerome Ayodele, have been confirmed as two of those who died in the bomb and gun attacks on the university this morning.
All those who were killed during the attack were said to be Christians attending Sunday services when over 15 suspected Boko Haram members launched a surprise attack on their worship venues.
The attack took place at the old campus of the institution.
Ogbonyomi was one of those attending the Catholic mass at the Indoor Sports Hall when the attackers struck.
Spokesman of the BUK, Mustapaha Zaradeen, could not confirm the exact number of those who died as a result of the attack but sources told The Eagle Online that about 20 persons died, including the two professors.
The bomb and gun bearing men, numbering about 15, stormed the school at about 8:30am.
This was a few minutes after the services in Theatres 2 and 3 commenced.
About 20 persons who were wounded are receiving treatment at the emergency Ward of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
One of the victims, a 400-level Accounting student, Faith Onche, who was shot in the arm, told newsmen that the attackers did not make use of bombs when they initially struck.
Onche said they shot sporadically, killing and injuring worshippers in the process.
Onche said: “Initially, it was mistaken by some of us for a burst tyre until it became sporadic.
“That was when it dawned on us that it was a gun attack and at that point there was stampede as every one scampered for safety.”
It was gathered that it was in the bid to make their escape certain that the gunmen deployed the bombs they had with them.
A Mercedes Benz V Boot was recovered by the Joint Task Force.
The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described the attack as unfortunate.
Kwankwaso said it was unfortunate that the attack on BUK came at a time peace was returning to Kano.
He said that governments at the federal and state levels will continue to work hard at restoring peace to the state, which has come under constant attack since January 2012.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of BUK, Prof. Yahuza Bello, conducted Kwankwaso around the university.