General Buhari's car attacked in Kaduna by Boko Haram

Picture of Gen Muhammadu Buhari's car attacked by Boko Haram today

It was mayhem and chaos in Kaduna today when twin explosins rocked the city leaving dead bodies in its wake.

The first explosion targeted moderate Islamic cleric Dahiru Bauchi,after he delivered a Ramadan lecture, while the second one targeted senior opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, but both of them escaped unhurt.

Body parts and damaged vehicles lay on the busy Alkali Road in the city centre where the bomb targeting Mr Bauchi exploded, reports the BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar from the scene.

Kaduna police chief Shehu Umar said at least 25 people were killed and 14 wounded in that blast, apparently caused by a suicide bomber.

Another 15 were killed in the second blast, he said, while an emergency worker put the number at 19.

Mr Bauchi had completed a preaching session in the nearby Murtala Muhammed square, and was driving through the area in an open-roofed vehicle, greeting thousands of well-wishers when he was targeted.

Followers of the renowned cleric reacted angrily, throwing stones at the security forces and accusing them of failing to protect Nigerians, our reporter says.

The security forces retaliated by firing tear gas.

About 90 minutes after the first attack, a second explosion ripped through the crowded Kawo area, targeting the motorcade of Gen Buhari, a former military ruler of Nigeria and a senior member of the All Progressive Congress opposition party.

Gunmen rammed a vehicle into his convoy, firing shots at it, our reporter says, adding that two of Gen Buhari's bodyguards were slightly wounded in the attack.

The state government has now imposed a 24-hour curfew in the city and surrounding areas.

"The measure is aimed at forestalling a breakdown of law and order," said government spokesman Ahmed Maiyaki.

A witness claims that the bomb was  concealed in a red Volkswagen golf car parked by the road side, was detonated as the Muslim cleric convoy drove past.