Unknown gunmen have killed nine health workers in Unguwa Uku area of Kano metropolis, while they were carrying out polio immunization in the city.
Eye witnesses claim that the gunmen who attacked the women were on a tricycle, when they opened fire on the victims identified as immunization staff.
According to another eye witness account, “the victims may be immunization staff who go from house to house for immunization exercise”.
In the first attack in kano four polio vaccinators were shot dead by gunmen who drove up on a motor tricycle.
Thirty minutes later gunmen opened fire on women waiting with their children in hotoro, outside Kano city.
Although there is no confirmation from the police on the attack, residents say the area has been taken over by security operatives.
This is the first time gunmen will be using tricylcles to stage such attacks since the state government banned the use of commercial motorcycles in the commercial city.
The state government banned the use of motor cycles in the state after a recent attack on the Emir of Kano by gunmen.
Some Muslim leaders in northern Nigeria had opposed polio vaccinations in 2003, claiming they could cause infertility.
Nigeria is one of only three countries where polio is still endemic.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the other countries where the crippling disease still exists in the world.
