How Bomb Exploded In Nyanya Yesternight Killing Over 40

                           

Exactly 17 days after a bomb explosion killed over 75 people at the Nyanya bus terminus in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), another bomb explosion yesterday rocked the bustling neighbourhood.

About 40 people were feared dead while several others were injured in the incident which occurred at about 8pm.

Residents of the area who are yet to come over the shock of the last explosion were rattled by the explosion which occurred a few metres from the spot of the previous blast.

Our correspondent who visited the scene saw about 40 dead bodies.

Witnesses said the suspected bomber drove a white Volkswagen Golf car loaded with explosives and parked at the spot, shortly after which the bomb went off.

Officials of the Fire Service who were the earliest rescue team to get to the scene succeeded in putting out the fire from the explosion.

Rescue officials at the scene, including those of the  police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT Emergency Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were said to be battling to defuse unexploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the form of two cylinders recovered from the scene.

Soldiers had also cordoned off the place while trucks were seen carrying dead bodies away. At the time of filing this report, four soldiers were at the scene.

It was gathered that a few casualties had been moved to Asokoro General Hospital. This was confirmed by the commandant-general of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Ade Abolurin.

10 die, 13 injured – NEMA

Meanwhile, NEMA which confirmed the explosion, said 10 died and 13 were injured at the moment. However, the police confirmed 12 dead. The Inspector general of police Mohammed Abubakar visited the scene yesterday night to assess the scene.

FCT police spokesperson, Altine Daniel, said six vehicles were damaged by the blast, including the bomber’s.

 

Eye witness accounts

An eyewitness who lives very close to the scene of the incident and who pleaded anonymity said: “When the incident occurred, everywhere around the place shook. In fact, I thought I would not survive it; the impact of the blast was so devastating to the extent that the sound deafened my ear for about five minutes.”

Another eyewitness, a man who confirmed the incident to our reporter, also on ground of anonymity, said that on his way back from work, he had stopped over at Nyanya and parked his car near the blast scene when the explosion went off.

“Immediately, I rushed to the scene and saw about 13 bodies lying unattended to. I’m still thanking God for my own life,” he said.

Another witness said three men, suspected to be the bombers, parked a white Golf car and ran into the crowd, but could not be traced after the blast.

Also, another witness spoke of five people that were trapped and died in their cars at the scene of the blast. He said most of the people affected were passers-by and petty traders.

Asokoro, National Hospitals Receive 23 Bodies

A total of 23 bodies were deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital and the National Hospital.

When this reporter visited the Asokoro General Hospital at about 9:30pm, two ambulances belonging to NEMA had brought in both the dead and the wounded. The vehicles had registration number CT92 A07 and CD 39A. A third vehicle which came in later carrying a corpse had its plate number removed.

In all, 17 bodies conveyed in a polythene bags were deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital. Two of the corpses were brought in without their heads, while scores of the wounded were taken to the emergency care unit. The hospital beds were not enough to accommodate the wounded.

Relations of the dead and wounded besieged the hospital but were prevented from entering. Scores of security operatives, including police SSS and military operatives, were the hospital to regulate movement of persons in and around the facility.

The people who thronged the hospital were furious and rained curses at the security operatives for preventing them from entering the place.

It was learnt that six corpses were deposited at the National Hospital while an unconfirmed number of the wounded were taken to the intensive care unit.

The security operatives prevented journalists from taking photographs in the hospital vicinity and even threatened to deal with anyone who attempted to do.