About 120 Muslim worshippers died and 270 were injured on Friday as the violent Boko Haram sect bombed the 10,000 capacity Kano Central Mosque where the Emir, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, usually leads prayers. About 10 gunmen went on a shooting spree after the blast at the mosque, which is close to the Emir of Kano’s palace.

The emir was said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia late on Thursday night from Paris. Witnesses said the incident happened just as residents were getting set for Friday prayers.

"The imam was about to start prayer when he saw somebody in a car trying to force himself into the mosque. But when people stopped him, he detonated the explosions. People started running helter-skelter," an eyewitness told BBC.