Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor, (pictured left) was among the 59 killed during the attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya yesterday. He was in Nairobi as a participant in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a 4-day celebration of writing, thinking and storytelling. The Ghanaian govt confirmed his death early Sunday morning. He was 78 years old. His son was also shot, but was not killed.
Also the president's nephew, Mbugua and his fiance Wahito (both pictured right) were killed in the attack yesterday.
Over 1,000 people have so far been evacuated from the mall, but an unknown number of hostages are still trapped inside with the terrorists believed to be about 15. Kenyan security forces have been locked in a standoff with gunmen since yesterday. Gun shots have been heard all morning in the area.
Heavily armed Islamic extremists pulled up in several cars yesterday and shot their way into the most upmarket shopping centre in Nairobi, ordering Muslims out if they could prove their religion by reciting a prayer or answering a question on Islam. They started killing those who failed the test.
BBC reported that at least one of the attackers was a woman who had some kind of leadership role.
MEANWHILE, President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday in Abuja said Nigeria would give support and render assistance to Kenya in its efforts to curtail the scourge of terrorism. This is contained in a statement issued by his
spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, condemning
Saturday’s terrorists’ attack on a Nairobi shopping mall in Kenya. According to the statement, the attack on the
Westgate Mall in Nairobi by terrorists suspected to be of the Al-Shabab sect reportedly left about 59 people dead. Most of those killed in the attack, the statement added, were women and children, while more than 150 were reportedly injured. President Jonathan, according to the statement, said the assistance was in line with the spirit of recent agreements for enhanced bilateral co- operation between both countries. “Nigeria will assist Kenya to avoid a recurrence of the heinous attack,’’ it said. The statement said Jonathan also extended heartfelt condolences to President Uhuru Kenyatta and all Kenyans over the loss of lives in Saturday’s terrorists’ attack. It added that President Jonathan and Nigeria joined
the rest of the world in condemning “the atrocious, callous and abominable attack on defenceless Kenyans and foreign nationals’’. The statement said Jonathan assured Kenyatta and the people of Kenya of Nigeria’s full solidarity as they grapple with the attack’s consequences and strive to end the terrorist siege. “The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all those who lost their loved ones in the attack and grant the injured speedy recovery,’’ it said.
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