SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: June 23, 2014

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Kano State School of Hygiene

Region & Country:Western Africa | Nigeria

New or Ongoing:New Incident

An apparent suicide bombing occurred on the campus of Kano State School of Hygiene in northern Nigeria on June 23, 2014, killing eight people including the bomber, and wounding some 25.  According to reports, the bomb, which had been concealed in a book bag, went off near the university’s main gate, in an area frequented by students between classes.  As of this report, police had questioned one suspect, but no arrests had been made and no one had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent attacks on university campuses.  Such attacks threaten the lives and well-being of members of higher education communities; undermine higher education functions and values, including autonomy and academic freedom; and impair the ability of the higher education to serve its public mission. State authorities have a responsibility to ensure the security of academic communities, to prevent future attacks, and to hold perpetrators of violent attacks accountable.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/23/uk-nigeria-blast-idUKKBN0EY1Q920140623
http://allafrica.com/stories/201406240390.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201406240393.html?aa_source=slideout