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Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Sym 19 releases new single and album track list
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'AGN is a filthy body' - Actor Bimbo Manuel says
"I will not. I know what happens there. it is not simple politics they play there at the AGN. It is filthy. I will not go there. My father will turn in his grave to find me living on the level those guys live in to get to those positions" he said
Again...Monalisa Chinda and Lanre Nzeribe part ways
"Monalisa and Lanre? That ended when...about two, three months ago. I doubt they will reconcile this time." A source close to the couple told LIBMonalisa not only walked away from the relationship with Lanre, she also walked away from the business venture they both started together, Monalisa magazine, which made its debut in November 2013.
Angry Mob Set Suspected Female Kidnapper Ablaze in Ilorin
A middle-aged woman was on Friday lynched and set ablaze by an irate mob at Emir’s road, near Opo-Malu junction, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.According to reports, the mother of the baby was alighting from a motorcycle and had asked the woman to assist her hold the baby. But surprisingly, the suspected kidnapper bolted away with the baby. Shocked, the mother of the baby raised alarm which attracted passersby and neighbours and they chased the fleeing suspect. The mob eventually caught up with her, stripped her naked and beat her mercilessly before setting her ablaze.
The incident resulted in pandemonium as panic-stricken residents, shop owners, commuters and pedestrians
fled in different directions. In the ensuing confusion, some motorists near the area abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels, while others made a detour to avoid being implicated. Also some confused passersby were said to have taken refuge in nearby residential buildings.
Armed policemen from a Division of the state Police Command were quickly deployed to the troubled area.
They consequently restored normalcy. A source who pleaded anonymity told journalists that they were shocked when the suspect ran away with the baby.
He said:
“A nursing mother who was cuddling a baby was alighting from okada (motorcycle) and asked the female kidnapper to help her hold her baby. Before we knew what was happening, the woman fled with the toddler and people caught her. She was given the beating of her life.
When they discovered that the woman was unperturbed, they poured kerosene on her and set ablaze at the scene. Immediately the policemen arrived the scene, they started shooting and everybody scampered to safety.”
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, confirmed the incident and confirmed the arrest of some suspects.
Two Years After, Terror Strikes Again in Abuja
Two years after a bomb blast hit the office of THISDAY Newspapers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was a black Monday yesterday in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, when a bomb-laden, red Volkswagen Golf car, with number plate XQ229LSD, exploded at a bus park in the neighborhood, killing 71 people and injuring 124 others.
The chassis number of the vehicle, 26AS 9730302621, was still visible on the engine after the blast.
The tragic incident, which occurred between 6.30 am and 6.45 am, destroyed about 16 luxury buses (otherwise known as el-Rufai; named after the former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai), of which four of them were said to have been filled with over 50 passengers.
Also, several commercial motorcycles, mini-buses and cars parked within the motor park were burnt beyond recognition.
Owing to the bomb blast, security in and around the FCT was immediately beefed up, forcing President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President David Mark to cancel their engagements.
They visited the scene of the attack and the injured at the hospital, with the president promising Nigerians that the federal government would defeat terrorism.
The scene of the ugly incident, which was littered with horrifying images of dismembered bodies and blood soaked vehicles, was immediately cordoned off by security men and rescue agencies, who swung into action to ascertain the number of casualties and carry out investigations on the attack.
Most of the dead and injured were taken to various hospitals in the FCT by rapid response teams of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Nigeria Police Force (NPF), while an appreciable number of military men and experts were also at the scene to maintain order.
Giving a breakdown of the casualties, the Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani Sidi, following a visit to hospitals in the FCT, said the Abuja Clinic had four injured victims; Nyanya General Hospital – 11 injured victims; Customs Hospital, Karu – 14 injured victims and one dead person; Asokoro Clinic – 25 injured victims and 27 dead; and Maitama Hospital – 27 injured victims and 14 dead bodies.
Others included Wuse General Hospital with 10 injured and 15 dead; National Hospital, Abuja – 25 wounded and 14 dead; Garki Hospital had one injured; and Medical Centre, Maraba had seven injured victims, bringing the total number of dead persons to 71 and 124 injured victims.
Reacting to the terror attack at the bus park, Jonathan expressed shock at the unfortunate incident that claimed several lives and injured 124 others.
The president, who also visited the injured victims at the Asokoro General Hospital in the FCT, in the company of Mark, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, service chiefs and some ministers, assured Nigerians that the Boko Haram menace was temporary, as the country would overcome it.
The president, on behalf of Nigerians, expressed condolences to the families of those who suffered directly from the incident.
“I am also commending security services for their prompt action. However, we lost quite a number of people, so we condole with our countrymen and women. We will continue to work very hard.
“The issue of Boko Haram is temporary. Government is doing everything to make sure that we move our country forward in spite of all the distractions that want to take us backward.
“We promise that we will get over it. We also want to use this unique opportunity to plead with the media and our great men and women to come up with enlightenment programmes for our people.
“Those countries that face terrorism have developed great awareness. If there are unusual movement of vehicles and bags, they call security agencies and based on this a lot of incidents are contained.
“So we believe that if people become observant and all of us become security conscious of the movement of people, we will be able to reduce some of these incidents.
“We will do our best, the security services will continue to work very hard. God willing we will get over it. The issue of Boko Haram is temporary surely we will get over it,” Jonathan said.
The president after leaving the scene of the bomb blast, visited the injured at the Asokoro General Hospital.
The Inspector-General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar also visited the scene of the explosion, where he assessed the extent of damage and the impact on the surrounding environment.
Abubakar, during the visit, urged Abuja residents and the international community to remain calm and vigilant as the police and other security agencies were stepping up measures to uncover the culprits of the crime and avoid a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.
He further noted that security agents have relentlessly worked round the clock with significant success to stave off such attacks on the FCT and the entire country at large and therefore reassured Nigerians and foreign nationals that security agencies would do everything possible to further strengthen the security within and beyond the nation’s capital.
He said the police had been placed on red alert, adding: “We have equally ordered the police to intensify surveillance on all vulnerable targets within Abuja.”
He noted that the police were being supported by other law enforcement agencies and had commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident with the deployment of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad and other detectives to the scene with a view to solving the crime.
“Regrettably, 71 persons have been confirmed dead while 124 persons sustained various degrees of injuries,” he confirmed.
While commiserating with the families of the victims of the blasts, the IG called on members of the public to go about their normal businesses without fear and to cooperate with the police by providing useful information in order to ensure that the perpetrators of the bomb attack are brought to book.
Also speaking to journalists at the scene, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the explosion occurred at 6.45 am during the rush hour, destroying many vehicles and large number of casualties.
Mba reconfirmed that 16 luxury buses were razed, while 24 other vehicles were also destroyed in the blast.
He said information centres would be open at all the hospitals where survivors were being attended to in order to provide information for their families.
He added that experts from the Bomb Disposal Squad Unit of the police had combed the area, with security personnel placed on red alert throughout the FCT.
“The agencies are already paying very close attention to all vulnerable points including bus parks,” he said.
Mba further advised the public to avoid unnecessary huge crowds and be security conscious at all times.
He said most of the affected passengers were workers and petty traders who were to be conveyed by commercial vehicles to the metropolis.
In the same vein, the Director of Search and Rescue, NEMA, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, confirmed that they were alerted of the bomb blast at 6.45 am and swiftly deployed their men to the scene to help rescue and evacuate the wounded, as well as the dead to the hospital.
Hospitals appeal for blood donation
Hospitals in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday, appealed to residents of the city to donate blood to save the lives of the survivors of the Nyanya bomb blast.
Most of the injured victims, who were said to be in critical condition, according to hospital workers, need blood transfusion to stay alive.A visit to the Asokoro, Garki, Nyanya, Maitama, and Wuse general hospitals, where most of the bomb blast victims were taken to, revealed that many volunteers had agreed to donate blood for the victims.
At the hospitals, which have been besieged by relations, friends and colleagues of the victims, medical workers were screening people who had offered to donate blood.
As expected, there was weeping and wailing in virtually all the hospitals visited by Daily Sun, as those who could not find their relations on admission, were advised to check the mortuary. A particular man, who said he was looking for his daughter, cried uncontrollably when he came out of one of the mortuaries and told the people around: “Just come and see how human beings were roasted like fowls, including children, that you cannot even know who is who again. Oh God.
Jungle justice: Angry Mob Brutally Kill Armed Robber In Oyo [PICTURED]
A robber in Oyo, who specialized in carrying out his nefarious acts using motorcycles, got more than he bargained for when he was attacked by a mob and killed.The unidentified man is said to have completed a robbery on a petrol station in the Alakia area of Ibadan, the state capital, when he was chased down and accosted by the mob.
The robber was then stabbed in the stomach and his other gang members were beaten mercilessly until they were rescued by the police.
The Tribune reports said that, his gang member and the okada man he used were not spared either, as they were beaten black and blue before they were rescued by policemen from Monatan Division. Two locally-made pistols and two live cartridges were found on the unidentified deceased gang member.
The gang was said to have invaded Bambo petrol station at Alakia area of Ibadan on Thursday, March 20 armed with the two guns. The unidentified gang leader reportedly shot into the air which attracted the manager of the petrol station. Leaving his office to see what was happening, the man was confronted by the sight of two of his attendants held hostage.
Fulani Herdsmen Lay Siege Of Enugu Community, Kills One Enugu Indigene
An indigene of Ibagwa Ezimo in Udenu local Government Area of Enugu State has been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
gathered that the victim, Theophilus Eleje walked into the herdsmen, who laid ambush along the road.
Spokesman of the police in Enugu State, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, who confirmed the incident, said the herdsmen operated as armed robbers.
According to Amaraizu, “the suspected Fulani robbers gave matchet cuts on the head of their victim, identified as one Theophilus Eneje as he ran into them. They emerged from the bush”.
He stated that the victim later died owing to the matchet cuts he received.
Amaraizu added that, “manhunt has been intensified in order to arrest the suspects”.
'Attack on Nigeria is 'spiritual' - IK Osadioduwa Tweets
How Faith Sakwe became President Jonathan's adopted child
Facts have emerged on how the President and his wife First Lady Patience Jonathan adopted Faith
and her siblings in 2000.
According to reports,
Faith is the daughter of Late Engr. Ukalizibe Sakwe, a Chieftain
of the People Democratic Party in Bayelsa state and also a bosom
friend of the Jonathans, who died in a fatal motor accident in 2000.
After his death, President Jonathan and the first lady adopted his 4
children; Faith, Arewera Adolphus, Aruabai and Abayola and took
responsibility of their welfare & education over the last 14 years.
'I am the king of R&B in Nigeria' - Darey Art Alade declares
Award
winning artiste Darey Art Alade said in a recent interview with Encomium
mag that he is the king of RnB music in Nigeria and not
Banky W. When asked if
he feels any competition between himself and Banky W knowing that they
are both called Nigeria's king of RnB, Darey replied;
"There is only one king of RnB. I have never heard anybody being called king of RnB except me. I have never heard anybody call him (Banky W) king of RnB except if you think he is one. But the truth is, there is only one king, and you know who the king is. If you doubt it, my new material will settle the scores. Although it has taken sometime, I am very happy the work is coming out soon" he told the magazine
Darey also spoke on the increased rate of artiste/management
face off and revealed plans of acquiring a radio station. Continue to read the rest...
On artiste/management face off, Darey said;
"The truth of the matter is everybody has a role to play and they have a portion of the blame. The label invests something, I don't want to say much. For every investment you want to make a return. This is where the artiste doesn't understand. In the beginning, they gave you a house, a car, and you think you are talented, and come to think of it, you don't even have anything in the market. Whatever they gave you was based on potential, the initial agreement that if I give you this, you will give me that in return. Some artistes don't have agreement, everything is sealed at a bar. As you drink, you signed without realizing what you are signing. Some of them are illiterates, some pretend to know what the business is all about, but they don't. Some of them get carried away by the glitz and glamour of it, signed without knowing what the agreement stipulates. When they default, they start blaming the label, saying all sorts of things. But most of us don't find out what was the agreement before going to the press and write. On the other side, the label may have been obligated to do certain things but they did not do it and the artiste will complain. These are the issues" he said
On how to resolve these issues, Darey said;
"I think both sides should have respect for agreement. There shouldn't be issues if both sides respect agreement they made. For instance, when I left Questionmark, nobody heard that I fought anybody till tomorrow. Yes we had disagreement, it wasn't a rosy ending but till date they are still my friends, we work together. So maturity is needed to handle such situation".
Darey also spoke on his plans to own a radio station
"I will love to own a radio station. I have already started making inquiries and plans on that feasibility. I am a radio person, I have worked on radio, and it was really fun. Since then I felt it is good if I can achieve this by running a radio station. After all, it will provide jobs for people, encourage creativity and improve entertainment. I don't know the format of the station yet but let me get the license first" he said.
Raising Dust: PRE Steps up with Brand New Music, ‘Pick Pin’
Pick Pin sticks to tried and tested methods; the undeniably catchy
afrobeat instrumental lays a sturdy foundation that ensures PRE’s dalliance
with the afro dancehall genre comes away successful. With a video following
soon, PRE has seemingly crafted a runaway hit in Pick Pin.
Pick Pin download Link: http://bit.ly/1iHDJgD
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1bNV5Hh
Instagram: http://bit.ly/1dnA9bS
Pintrest: http://bit.ly/1cVuJHu
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/16Y1flf
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/13NmT9A
Thisday Style editor Ruth Osime covers new issue of Genevieve mag
Killer child-bride speaks: ‘I regret killing my husband, 17 days after wedding
About two weeks ago, a 14 year old teenage girl named Wasila Umaru (pictured above), who was forced into marriage with a 35 year old man, killed the man and three of his friends with rat poison by slipping the poison into their meal during a small wedding party which took place in the northern Ungwar Yansoro village, at Gaya LGA near the city of Kano. (If you missed it, read here)
Wasila now says she regrets killing her husband. The killing happened 17 days after their wedding. Speaking with a News reporter at Bompai police HQ, Kano, where she is being held, Wasila said;
“Mine was a classical example of youthful exuberance; it dawned on me shortly after that it was a joke taken too far to resolve a forced marriage question. I have never enjoyed the opportunity of going to Islamic school or acquiring Western education. My father forced me into this mess by stubbornly forcing me into a relationship I was not prepared to live in”
“Though my target was my late husband, I must confess that my blood went cold when I realized I had committed mass murder”. Continue…Narrating how she executed the mass murder, she said,
“On the fateful day, my husband’s meal was prepared by the senior wife and put in my room as I was due in fulfillment of his rotational duty in a polygamous setting. I obtained the rat poison for just N100 and, at my convenience, mixed it with the local dish prepared for him. When he returned home for the feast, he came with those who were destined to die with him. I was restless but could not stop it from happening.
“I felt normal and slept after the incident but the consequence of my action was clear when I was picked up by the police and I felt cold for the first time”.
“Destiny appears to have played a wicked one on me at this early stage of my life and I would rededicate the rest of my life to sincerely seek Allah’s forgiveness”.However, despite the overwhelming evidence the police have to prosecute the alleged culpable homicide, they seemed to be in a dilemma due to age of the suspect.
Commenting on the development, Kano State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, said “the case has been referred to appropriate authorities for the next line of action”. Majia told Sunday Vanguard: “I am assuring you that Wasila would appear in court soon because we have limitation on the number of days we can keep a suspect no matter the perceived weakness of the case or the personality involved”.
Sultan, CAN, Condemn Explosion At Nyanya Motor Park, FCT
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, condemned the explosion at Nyanya park, FCT, on April 14, 2014, Monday, called for collective efforts toward addressing insecurity in the country.The sultan stated this during the Central Council meeting of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna.
He condemned the terrorist attack, commiserated with families of the victims and prayed to God to grant eternal rest to the deceased.
“We never thought that such things will ever come to Nigeria some years back, but they are with us right now. It is left for us to wake up from our deep slumber and face the challenges.He further urged all the Nigerians to discard ethno-religious sentiments and strive toward promoting peaceful coexistence and harmony.
“We condemn what happened this morning in Nyanya, Abuja, and we pray that almighty Allah will expose whoever is behind it and all other mayhems in this country fast,” the sultan said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had also condemned the bomb blast, tagged it as inhuman action.
The National President of the Youth Wing of CAN, Pastor Simon Dolly, has revealed the position of the association in his interview to NAN in Abuja.
He urged the Federal Government to avoid a recurrence of such unfortunate incidence, saying “it is a threat to national unity”.
The pastor called on the FG to implement more proactive security measures to protect lives and property.
He added that “such bomb blasts can only stop if the sponsors are exposed and adequately punished”.
CAN member also advised the FG to curtail the influx of illegal immigrants in and around Abuja, adding that efforts needed to be done for their arrest and speedy repatriation.
It would be recalled that a car filled with explosives went off at the Nyanya Motor Park, FCT, at about 6.55am on April 14, 2014, Monday. At the time of filing the present report, the official death toll is 88 dead, over 200 injured.
Ex-BBA Star Beverly Osu Became New Face Of Ivie Hair [PHOTO]
Ex-star of Big Brother Africa show, Beverly Osu singed a contract and became a new face of Ivie Hair.
On her official Instagram page, 21-year-old Beverly Osu posted one of the promotional pictures with the caption: “New face of ivie hair..No dulling …thanking God for blessings and grace..Beverly Osu the mannequin, black diamond with a brain. Skinny but no pushover, might seem benign but larger than life. I don’t demand respect, I command it. I don’t read the news, I make it.”
“This is just the beginning,” @win84us wrote. And @kemi_kani supported: “Congrats my Ada..I will always love you.”
This is Osu’s second deal with a cosmetics line as she was recently made the face of Prestige Cosmetics Nigeria.
How we entertainers helped politicians kill our fans in Nyanya - by Etcetera
For God's sake, can Somebody please call Dbanj, Don Jazzy, Onyeka Onwenu, Duncan Mighty, Stephanie Okereke, Genevieve Nnaji, Funke Akindele, Omotola, Rita Dominic, Aki and Pawpaw, Sammy Okposo, Sunny Neji, Maleke, Okey Bakassi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Daddy Showkey, Richard Mofe Damijo, Kwam 1 and other entertainers that have at one time or the other been seen dining with politicians? Can you please tell them that there has been a bomb blast in Nyanya? Can you include pictures of the mutilated bodies? Please don't forget to tell them that most of the dead might have been lovers of their music and movies and cheered them in every concert and football matches they played both at club level and the national team. Tell them that their CDs and Movies were bought by those dead fans for inspiration and because they wanted to feel alive and ease off the daily tensions faced everyday in this country.That the Jingles done by Dbanj, Don Jazzy, Sammy Okposo, Onyeka Onwenu and other entertainers might have convinced some of those who have died in different Boko Haram raids or bad roads or lack of proper healthcare facilities to vote for politicians who have failed them in all ramifications? The same politicians that failed to protect the lives of those shredded bodies in Nyanya? That some of the dead fans in Nyanya might have even spent their little earnings to attend their concerts in Abuja and environs? Have you as an entertainer ever sat down to reflect on the fact that each time we give our voices to enhance the career of these politicians knowing they mean no good for this country that we are bringing more hardship and even death to our fans?
Why devote precious hours in the studio composing songs asking your fans to vote for politicians whose past stinks more than the dustbin at Ojota?
How do you feel listening to those songs today knowing that Mr Politician failed you and your die-hard fans? Can you give back those millions to bring back the lives of those dead fans in Nyanya, Jos, Maiduguri, Agatu in Benue? I guess not, because frolicking with the devil makes u perpetually his.
2015 is around the corner. Many of us entertainers will be called upon to do jingles, attend rallies wearing branded T-shirts in support of these same politicians. Millions of naira will be paid to your bank accounts. Thousands of bottles of MOET will be popped for you to feel good at different rally points while you convince your fans to join the bandwagon as part of the special few who voted for change.
Right now, some of us entertainers must be licking our lips in anticipation of the naira windfall come 2015. Let your conscience be your pilot. That is if you have one. May the souls of those fans who have died because of insecurity and corruption haunt every entertainer who refuses to repent from selling his or her talent for money at the expense of a better Nigeria.
And may the souls of all our faithfully departed fans REST IN PEACE. Amen!
100 perish in motor park bombing
‘Mummy, mummy, don’t let me die’, the agonising cry of a 15-year-old
boy, whose legs were shattered and holding on to his mother trailed the
deafening bomb explosion reverberating through the Federal Capital City.
A woman was lying face down without limbs while another who was
surrounded by her children, struggled for life before giving up in their
arms. Several other corpses littered the ground in the midst of the
injured, following the massive bomb blast that rocked the crowded Nyanya
Bus Terminus, at 6.45 am yesterday. No
less than 88 residents of the densely populated slum located at the
suburb of the Federal Capital City were killed while over 200 sustained
various degrees of injuries. Some of the dead were burnt beyond
recognition, while others were blown into pieces as only their severed
parts were packed into bags by rescue workers. Over 40 vehicles were
also destroyed. The incident happened when the bus
station which serves as a major terminus for commuters coming from
satellite towns disembark before joining the high capacity luxury buses
to the city centre. Condemnations immediately greeted the gruesome
incident just as survivours of the blast and eyewitnesses have been
recounting their experiences. Although Police Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba,
put the death toll at 71 and 124 injured, eye witnesses and hospital
sources said that the dead were far more than the official figure. An
eyewitness who simply identified himself as Romanus said pieces of human
flesh were flung to different parts of the motor park and beyond. When
Vanguard visited the scene of the blast, there were pools of fresh human
blood which emitted a very strong smell. The explosion caused extensive
damage at the park. Charred remains of at least seven cars, as well as
six buses were seen at the scene of the incident as a joint team of
different security forces battled to evacuate the dead and injured. How
the bomb was planted According to eye witnesses, a man drove a red
Volkswagen space bus into the premises of the big capacity bus terminus
popularly called El Rufai Buses and parked in front of two of the buses
which were loaded with passengers and almost moving to the city centre.
Vanguard gathered that upon protest from drivers of the buses that he
was obstructing their exit, the driver who allegedly came with four
other passengers reportedly said he was going to get some lower
denominations of money to settle his ‘passengers’. It was learnt that
just about five minutes after the driver and the passengers left the
Volkswagen bus, it exploded, killing everyone near it. The blast which
left a large crater at the spot where the bus was parked also resulted
in a huge fire which engulfed cars, the loaded and empty buses and all
structures in the area. At the scene of the blast, a pack of local
delicacy, popularly called Okpa, whose owner was reportedly ripped into
two was still intact, unaffected by the blast. Piles of bags of
intending passengers were scattered as far as over 30 metres. In the
midst of concerted rescue efforts, mobile phones of some of
the passengers who either died or sustained injuries from the blast were
still heard ringing. Vehicular 
damages
16 large SURE-P buses, popularly called El-Rufai buses and 24 others
were either burnt or destroyed from the effect of the blast. The
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd);the Chief of Defence
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and all the service chiefs visited
the scene of the incident. Hospitals overwhelmed, call for blood
Hospitals across the capital city have sent out passionate appeals for
voluntary blood donation from members of the public. They said that
their blood banks were exhausted and that a large number of the injured
had lost much blood and required transfusion. The managements of the
Asokoro Hospital and the National Hospital cried out that they had run
out of blood and needed blood urgently to avoid losing those who
suffered much blood loss in the incident. Relatives recount losses A
relative of one of the dead victims, Sadiat, who could not hold back
tears, told Vanguard that his nephew was to travel to Taraba and left
home about to 5 am in spite of the fact
that they live not far away from the park just for him to catch the
first bus since Taraba is far. “Only for me to hear deafening sound of a
blast and rushed to the scene. It took quite some time before I could
locate my nephew’s charred body and identified him with his cloth. I
could only identify the boy with torn cloth he wore”, she said as she
wept sorely. At the Asokoro General Hospital, relatives of the victims
gathered in different corners, waiting to identify their relatives, who
were probably involved in the bomb blast. Miss Adigun Bidemi who was
looking for her brother, Mr. Gbenga Oladele an architect said “my mother
called me to tell me of the blast and that my brother used to join the
high capacity buses to work. My mother and my brother left home together
this morning but parted ways at the park shortly before the explosion
and we have not been able to contact the young man who headed for the
high capacity bus. My mum called me and said that there was a bomb blast
at Nyanya, so we went there but we could not find him, we had gone to
the National Hospital but we did not see him, so that is why we are here
to check on him, but they did not allow us in to check” Lucky
survivors’ accounts I was on the queue to enter a bus One of the victims
admitted at the Wuse General Hospital who gave his name as Cosmas
Ugwuanyi from Enugu State told Vanguard that he was on queue to enter
the El-Rufai bus when the blast occurred. Though, Mr. Ugwuanyi’s case
was not so critical, the blast affected his eardrum and he was having
difficulties hearing what people were saying. The blast removed my
shirt, scattered my car, killed my four friends- survivor A survivor of
the blast who escaped unscathed, said his survival without a scratch was
because of providence. The victim, who was still in shock as at the
time he was responding to questions said he was grateful to God for
being gracious to him. Narrating what he witnessed, the victim who
wouldn’t mention his name said: “I went to Nyanya to pick my friends. I
was under the Nyanya Bridge to pick them, one person sat with me in the
front, while the other three people sat at the back. I had to enter the
Park to pick them because the Task Force would not allow people to
pick passengers under the Bridge. “We all saw the commotion that was
happening as a car drove into the park and the people were complaining
about the driver. The last person entering my car shut the door and I
tried to move the car and everything went blank. The explosion threw me
far away and scattered my car while all the four people with me in
the car died. “I really can’t say what happened, I just saw myself here,
they kept me on a wheel chair, but I got up to call my people.” As he
turned round, some of his relatives arrived the hospital, jubilated with
him, but the medical personnel took him in for further medical
investigations. An eye witness, Michael Chuks said: “Our vehicle just
left the park and we have not even left that junction close to the park
when we heard loud noise, some people said it was a burst tyre but we
knew that the noise was more than burst tyre so we parked and the next
we saw were plenty of dead bodies on ground. “The blast affected more
than four el-Rufai buses already loaded with passengers. There were more
than 500 people. Very soon now the government will tell us that two or
three people died.” Narrating his ordeal, a survivor, James Igwe said a
driver drove into the park and parked in front of the already loaded
high capacity buses and disappeared before the explosion. According to
him: “A vehicle came in and parked and the driver disappeared from the
vehicle, there were many people inside all those long buses you are
seeing now, this bomb exploded and everybody was running, some people
were seriously injured and we were calling for help but nobody came,
because some people were still unconscious and they were on the ground.
How I cheated death —Chinenye A food vendor who identified herself as
Chinenye Emeka, was grateful to God for sparing her life as the
explosion occurred immediately she stepped outside her shop and walked
across the road to buy polythene bags with which to sell her snacks.
She, however, regretted that many other food vendors at the park died in
the explosion. Her account: “The vehicle just drove in at a point where
two “El-Rufai” buses which were full of passengers were about moving
while many passengers were on queue struggling to board other vehicles.
“I saw a red-coloured space wagon going inside the park as I was trying
to cross the road back to where I kept my bread and other things which I
sell but while waiting to make sure there was no traffic on the road
before I crossed over, I heard a loud sound. I fell down but by the time
I got up, there was thick smoke all over the place. I tried running but
I couldn’t and when the smoke could clear a bit, I saw many people
lying down dead while many vehicles were already on fire”. Jeremiah
Ofem, a civil servant had bruises but survived Displaying his bruised
body to Vanguard, Ofem insisted: “Those who planted the vehicle may have
driven it to the place earlier and left. I believe they detonated the
bomb through the use of a remote control as no one was inside the
vehicle.” Epuele was hit from a distance One of the injured at the
Nyanya General Hospital, Michael Epuele, who said he was a long distance
driver at a near-by motor park, wondered how he was hit. He said he was
hit even when he was many metres away from the point of explosion.
Epuele claimed that when he and others were being evacuated from the
scene, he saw a big hole created following the blast. “I believe the
blast was buried in the ground, maybe in the night, else, how come there
was a very big hole at the scene,” he questioned. How a local bitters
saved my life Though he was aware that driving under the influence of
alcohol was a crime that could earn him either imprisonment or a fine if
caught by law enforcement agents, Timothy Eze Okorie was grateful for
yesterday’s decision to buy a bottle of Alomo, a local alcoholic bitters
popular with artisans and commercial vehicle drivers across the country
before beginning his job as a commercial bus driver. Narrating his
experience to Vanguard at the scene of the incidence, Mr. Okorie who was
visibly shaken said he could not explain why he took the decision to
buy the bitters rather than go back to Masaka to bring back passengers
to the bus terminus when the bomb blast took place. According to him, ‘I
Left my House at about six in the morning to bring passengers from
Masaka, Mararaba, One Man Village and Ado to the Nyanya bus Terminus
where they will board El-Rufai bus to the city centre. I dropped the
last passenger under the Nyanya Bridge and was supposed to enter the
park to carry passengers back to Masaka. Strangely, I had this sudden
and strong feeling to drink before beginning the day’s job. So rather
than enter the park, I took the next turn, went round the bridge and
headed towards Jukwoyi to buy a bottle of Alomo”. That decision turned
out to be his saving grace as less than three minutes after he left the
bus park, a huge explosion occured. What will I tell our parents, cries
Francis Alozie “My sister, Miriam Edozie Chinyere, left this early
around 6.30 in the morning to catch up with their staff bus which
normally waits for them at Nyanya Bridge. Unfortunately, when I heard
about this bomb issue I tried calling her but her number was not going
through, all the two numbers were switched off. And it is not as if the
battery was down because I was the one that charged the battery of the
two phones for her. She is my cousin, we live together at Kurudu, she
works at the Airport. I went to Nyanya Hospital first and they said that
only one female patient was kept there. They said they had the list
where all female patients were compiled. I tried to see the names and I
did not see anywhere they listed names and here too I did not see any
names I am just confused. I don’t know
what to do. If our parents start calling now, what will I tell them? I
passed out — Abdullahi One of the victims, who identified himself as
Yaro Inusa Abdulahi, an Okada rider from Kano State, said, the blast
occurred when he was trying to cross the road to see somebody when he
heard a blast. Abdulahi, who lives at national headquarters lodge, Karu,
said: “I heard a big blast and fainted, when I opened my eyes, I saw
wounds all over my hands, legs and head. About five El-Rufai buses were
loading at the scene of the incident.” Another victim who spoke to our
reporter, Daniel Job, who lives in Mararaba said: “I came with my
brother to board a bus to town, and because there was no motor from
Mararaba to town, I decided to enter a bike from Maraba to Nyanya, so
that we could board a bus to town. After buying the ticket at Nyanya
motor park, I discovered that the first bus had got filled up and we
were asked to enter the second one, on our way to enter the next bus,
that was when I heard the bomb explosion. After the explosion, I
discovered that I just had a little injury and started looking for my
brother and sister, who were already inside the bus I missed.” I came
out of the car through the window- Busayo Another victim, Mr. Adeoye
Busayo, 40 year-old security consultant at a private security firm in
Abuja, said he left his house around 6.00 am with “my Nissan sunny car with some people I wanted to give a lift. “When we got to Nyanya around 6:30 am,
there was a little traffic between Skakoma and the check point. I was
about 30 to 40 meters to Nyanya park; all of a sudden, I heard a
terrible blast, and there was dust everywhere, people were running
helter skelter. Everybody was panicking, though the sound was very
terrifying, after the first blast, all my windscreen and side glasses
were already shattered because of the vibration. “Then I heard another
blast. This time, I just heard a terrible noise at the roof of my car; I
managed to escape through the window because the door could not open. I
over-heard the people in my car shouting help, help and blood was
gushing out of their bodies. “At this point, the weather became dark
because there was durst everywhere. We started running and I saw a lady
fail down from my car after struggling to get out of the car through
the back glass and fire from
the car at my back caught her. “Everybody behind me all left their cars
and ran away, instead of people running for safety, because you could
neither see your back nor your front, they ran to where the fire was
raging because it was only that direction of the fire that was a little
bit illuminated, that was what deceived a lot of people.” Abdul Isiaka,
a welder at Golden Club company in Nyanya, said: “We had been at the
garage since 6 am and when we could not
enter the first bus, we decided to enter the second bus, in the process
of entering, all of a sudden, I saw smoke under the El-Rufai bus and we
started running, after running to a distance, the bomb exploded, and
trying to cross to the other side of the road, another one exploded,
that was how I got injured. “It did not take too long before the rescue
team came, in fact I went to them because I was crying for help,” said
the 23 year old Mararaba resident. I just found my self on the ground-
Sake Another victim, Anquer Sake, 40, a public servant in Asokoro, who
lives in Orozo area said: “I got to Nyanya park, got my ticket and
queued, I just found myself on the ground, I did not know how I was
brought here at Asokoro hospital. I just did my x-ray, waiting for the
result because I got an injury on my head. The worst hit The worst hit
were inter-state commuters going to the Northern states of Benue,
Bauchi, Nassarawa, Gombe, Tarraba, as well as, workers leaving the park
to the city centre. Others were: Petty traders, food vendors, Okada
riders, tea brewers popularly called Mai-Shai and vehicles conveying
passengers to various locations within and outside the FCT. Inside the
hospitals The effect of the explosion on the dead was so gruesome that
at the Asokoro and Wuse general hospitals, as the bodies were seen
mangled, charred and sickly to even look at. At the Maitama General
Hospital, where scores were rushed to, the Chief Medical Director, Dr.
Adetoun Sotimehin confirmed to reporters that 14 dead bodies including
women, men and youths were in the mortuary, two persons were on danger
list (critical condition) while 27 others who sustained injuries were
receiving treatment. At Asokoro General Hospital, the Chief Medical
Director, Ahmadu Abubakar confirmed that 27 dead bodies were brought to
the hospital with 25 others receiving treatment for various degrees of
injuries. Staff of the hospital were later heard announcing that they
needed blood donors from among the crowd of people that gathered round
to enable them administer them on some patients. At the National
Hospital Abuja, 30 bodies were confirmed to have been taken to the
mortuary while 40 of those injured were receiving treatment for injuries
sustained. At the Wuse General Hospital, the Chief Medical Director,
Dr. Obiora Chibundu was uncooperative, telling reporters to go to the
office of the GM Hospital Management Board for casualty figures.
Vanguard, however went to the mortuary and counted 16 corpses of the
elderly, men, women and young boys whose extremely burnt bodies were
being covered with cellophane bags by officials of the hospital,
assisted by the police, NEMA and Civil Defence personnel. A list of
another 51 persons containing those injured was made available to
relations to check for their loved ones. On the list, 40 were classified
as injured but recognizable while 11 were classified as injured but
unrecognized. At the Nyanya General Hospital, It was confirmed that over
100 persons with various degrees of injuries were rushed there for
treatment while the dead were referred to other hospitals because the
Nyanya hospital cannot boast of a functional mortuary presently. At the
Asokoro, Wuse and Maitama general hospitals, Vanguard observed that
there was serious apprehension as scores of people who came to check if
their relations were there could not get clear information of what to
do. Meanwhile, the Police authorities have released what they said is
the official list of casualties, saying that 71 persons were confirmed
dead while 124 were injured. 16 luxury buses belonging to the FCT, 24
other privately owned vehicles were damaged with three of the luxury
buses burnt to ashes. Mr Romanus Ugwu, an Abuja-based journalist,
resident at Nyanya, said that he ran to the scene on hearing the blast.
Ugwu said what he saw could be best described as a “gory sight” because
many people were burning in some cars and were calling for help that
never came to them while some were on the ground, helpless without
limbs. “You have to be hard hearted to look at these things. I saw a
woman lying face down without limbs while one, who was surrounded by her
children, struggled for life and gave up in their arms. “These
attackers appear to be more proactive than our rescue organisations and
security agencies because so many lives would have been saved if help
had come in time.’’ Ugwu said he counted many bodies littered on the
ground in the park, but could not say if all of them were dead. Mr
Abdulrazak Haruna of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
(CBRN) Response Unit of NSCDC, told NAN that he counted more than 100
bodies, including the injured while evacuating victims. “It is a sad
experience. We counted 20 BRT buses, 14 cars, 24 commuter buses and 13
motorcycles.’’ Mr Femi Lawal, a survivor of the blast who could not
contain his joy and gratitude to God for sparing him, said he had
dropped from one of the green buses from One-man Village and was heading
to the park when the blast went off. Lawal said he fell and was dazed
momentarily before realising what had happened. He said that he heard a
loud bang, which nearly blinded him, and saw a thick smoke while people
ran in confusion. The 32-year old man, who was apparently wounded on the
wrist and neck, said “it is a day I will live to remember”. A survivor,
Prince Igwe, however, said a vehicle was driven into the park and
parked in front of the already loaded high capacity buses. “The driver
hurriedly parked and disappeared shortly after the explosion went off. I
was inside one of the buses; I struggled to come out. “Many people
died,” he said. Security agencies on red alert in FCT— Mba Abuja,
Security agencies have been placed on red alert throughout the Federal
Capital Territory following the explosion that occurred in Nyanya bus
stop on Monday morning. CSP Frank Mba, Police Force spokesman, told
newsmen in Abuja at the scene of the incident that the blast occurred at
about 6.55 a.m. “The FCT police are already on red alert; security in
and around Abuja is being strengthened; we are paying very close
attention to all vulnerable points. “We are also paying close attention
to motor parks. We advise the public to avoid unnecessary huge crowd. We
are also paying close attention to government buildings. “We want to
appeal for calm, cooperation and patience,” he said, describing the
incident as sad. Mba confirmed that 16 high capacity buses, some cars
and motorcycles were affected in the explosion. He said investigation
had begun. “Experts from the Bomb Disposal Squad are on ground, the
police are working with other security agencies. “At this stage, we may
not be able to give the casualty figure; the reasons are obvious; a lot
of people are in the hospital; our detectives are visiting hospitals and
taking count. “We want to give you figures that we can back up with
facts,” he said. Remain calm — IGP Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of
Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has urged the citizens and the international
community to remain calm and vigilant saying the Police and other
security agencies were stepping up measures to uncover the authors of
the crime and avoid a reoccurrence of this unfortunate incident.
Speaking during his visit to the scene of the explosion where he
assessed the extent of damage and the impact on the surrounding
environment, the IG noted that security agents have relentlessly worked
round the clock with significant success to stave off such attacks on
the Federal Capital and the entire country at large. He therefore
reassured Nigerians and foreign nationals that security agencies will do
anything possible to further strengthen the security within and beyond
Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As a result, the IG directed all Police
operatives to be on red alert. He has equally ordered the Police to
intensify surveillance on all vulnerable targets within Abuja. A
statement signed by CSP Frank Mba said: “Meanwhile, the Police,
supported by other law enforcement agencies, have commenced a full-scale
investigation into the incident with the deployment of the Police
Anti-Bomb Squad and other detectives to the scene with the view to
solving the crime. “Regrettably, seventy-one (71) persons have been
confirmed dead while one hundred and twenty-four (124) persons sustained
various degrees of injuries” he said. “While commiserating with the
families of the victims of the blasts, the IGP called on the members of
the public to go about their normal businesses without fear and to
cooperate with the Police by providing useful information in order to
ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book”
the statement said.
damages
16 large SURE-P buses, popularly called El-Rufai buses and 24 others
were either burnt or destroyed from the effect of the blast. The
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd);the Chief of Defence
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and all the service chiefs visited
the scene of the incident. Hospitals overwhelmed, call for blood
Hospitals across the capital city have sent out passionate appeals for
voluntary blood donation from members of the public. They said that
their blood banks were exhausted and that a large number of the injured
had lost much blood and required transfusion. The managements of the
Asokoro Hospital and the National Hospital cried out that they had run
out of blood and needed blood urgently to avoid losing those who
suffered much blood loss in the incident. Relatives recount losses A
relative of one of the dead victims, Sadiat, who could not hold back
tears, told Vanguard that his nephew was to travel to Taraba and left
home about to 5 am in spite of the fact
that they live not far away from the park just for him to catch the
first bus since Taraba is far. “Only for me to hear deafening sound of a
blast and rushed to the scene. It took quite some time before I could
locate my nephew’s charred body and identified him with his cloth. I
could only identify the boy with torn cloth he wore”, she said as she
wept sorely. At the Asokoro General Hospital, relatives of the victims
gathered in different corners, waiting to identify their relatives, who
were probably involved in the bomb blast. Miss Adigun Bidemi who was
looking for her brother, Mr. Gbenga Oladele an architect said “my mother
called me to tell me of the blast and that my brother used to join the
high capacity buses to work. My mother and my brother left home together
this morning but parted ways at the park shortly before the explosion
and we have not been able to contact the young man who headed for the
high capacity bus. My mum called me and said that there was a bomb blast
at Nyanya, so we went there but we could not find him, we had gone to
the National Hospital but we did not see him, so that is why we are here
to check on him, but they did not allow us in to check” Lucky
survivors’ accounts I was on the queue to enter a bus One of the victims
admitted at the Wuse General Hospital who gave his name as Cosmas
Ugwuanyi from Enugu State told Vanguard that he was on queue to enter
the El-Rufai bus when the blast occurred. Though, Mr. Ugwuanyi’s case
was not so critical, the blast affected his eardrum and he was having
difficulties hearing what people were saying. The blast removed my
shirt, scattered my car, killed my four friends- survivor A survivor of
the blast who escaped unscathed, said his survival without a scratch was
because of providence. The victim, who was still in shock as at the
time he was responding to questions said he was grateful to God for
being gracious to him. Narrating what he witnessed, the victim who
wouldn’t mention his name said: “I went to Nyanya to pick my friends. I
was under the Nyanya Bridge to pick them, one person sat with me in the
front, while the other three people sat at the back. I had to enter the
Park to pick them because the Task Force would not allow people to
pick passengers under the Bridge. “We all saw the commotion that was
happening as a car drove into the park and the people were complaining
about the driver. The last person entering my car shut the door and I
tried to move the car and everything went blank. The explosion threw me
far away and scattered my car while all the four people with me in
the car died. “I really can’t say what happened, I just saw myself here,
they kept me on a wheel chair, but I got up to call my people.” As he
turned round, some of his relatives arrived the hospital, jubilated with
him, but the medical personnel took him in for further medical
investigations. An eye witness, Michael Chuks said: “Our vehicle just
left the park and we have not even left that junction close to the park
when we heard loud noise, some people said it was a burst tyre but we
knew that the noise was more than burst tyre so we parked and the next
we saw were plenty of dead bodies on ground. “The blast affected more
than four el-Rufai buses already loaded with passengers. There were more
than 500 people. Very soon now the government will tell us that two or
three people died.” Narrating his ordeal, a survivor, James Igwe said a
driver drove into the park and parked in front of the already loaded
high capacity buses and disappeared before the explosion. According to
him: “A vehicle came in and parked and the driver disappeared from the
vehicle, there were many people inside all those long buses you are
seeing now, this bomb exploded and everybody was running, some people
were seriously injured and we were calling for help but nobody came,
because some people were still unconscious and they were on the ground.
How I cheated death —Chinenye A food vendor who identified herself as
Chinenye Emeka, was grateful to God for sparing her life as the
explosion occurred immediately she stepped outside her shop and walked
across the road to buy polythene bags with which to sell her snacks.
She, however, regretted that many other food vendors at the park died in
the explosion. Her account: “The vehicle just drove in at a point where
two “El-Rufai” buses which were full of passengers were about moving
while many passengers were on queue struggling to board other vehicles.
“I saw a red-coloured space wagon going inside the park as I was trying
to cross the road back to where I kept my bread and other things which I
sell but while waiting to make sure there was no traffic on the road
before I crossed over, I heard a loud sound. I fell down but by the time
I got up, there was thick smoke all over the place. I tried running but
I couldn’t and when the smoke could clear a bit, I saw many people
lying down dead while many vehicles were already on fire”. Jeremiah
Ofem, a civil servant had bruises but survived Displaying his bruised
body to Vanguard, Ofem insisted: “Those who planted the vehicle may have
driven it to the place earlier and left. I believe they detonated the
bomb through the use of a remote control as no one was inside the
vehicle.” Epuele was hit from a distance One of the injured at the
Nyanya General Hospital, Michael Epuele, who said he was a long distance
driver at a near-by motor park, wondered how he was hit. He said he was
hit even when he was many metres away from the point of explosion.
Epuele claimed that when he and others were being evacuated from the
scene, he saw a big hole created following the blast. “I believe the
blast was buried in the ground, maybe in the night, else, how come there
was a very big hole at the scene,” he questioned. How a local bitters
saved my life Though he was aware that driving under the influence of
alcohol was a crime that could earn him either imprisonment or a fine if
caught by law enforcement agents, Timothy Eze Okorie was grateful for
yesterday’s decision to buy a bottle of Alomo, a local alcoholic bitters
popular with artisans and commercial vehicle drivers across the country
before beginning his job as a commercial bus driver. Narrating his
experience to Vanguard at the scene of the incidence, Mr. Okorie who was
visibly shaken said he could not explain why he took the decision to
buy the bitters rather than go back to Masaka to bring back passengers
to the bus terminus when the bomb blast took place. According to him, ‘I
Left my House at about six in the morning to bring passengers from
Masaka, Mararaba, One Man Village and Ado to the Nyanya bus Terminus
where they will board El-Rufai bus to the city centre. I dropped the
last passenger under the Nyanya Bridge and was supposed to enter the
park to carry passengers back to Masaka. Strangely, I had this sudden
and strong feeling to drink before beginning the day’s job. So rather
than enter the park, I took the next turn, went round the bridge and
headed towards Jukwoyi to buy a bottle of Alomo”. That decision turned
out to be his saving grace as less than three minutes after he left the
bus park, a huge explosion occured. What will I tell our parents, cries
Francis Alozie “My sister, Miriam Edozie Chinyere, left this early
around 6.30 in the morning to catch up with their staff bus which
normally waits for them at Nyanya Bridge. Unfortunately, when I heard
about this bomb issue I tried calling her but her number was not going
through, all the two numbers were switched off. And it is not as if the
battery was down because I was the one that charged the battery of the
two phones for her. She is my cousin, we live together at Kurudu, she
works at the Airport. I went to Nyanya Hospital first and they said that
only one female patient was kept there. They said they had the list
where all female patients were compiled. I tried to see the names and I
did not see anywhere they listed names and here too I did not see any
names I am just confused. I don’t know
what to do. If our parents start calling now, what will I tell them? I
passed out — Abdullahi One of the victims, who identified himself as
Yaro Inusa Abdulahi, an Okada rider from Kano State, said, the blast
occurred when he was trying to cross the road to see somebody when he
heard a blast. Abdulahi, who lives at national headquarters lodge, Karu,
said: “I heard a big blast and fainted, when I opened my eyes, I saw
wounds all over my hands, legs and head. About five El-Rufai buses were
loading at the scene of the incident.” Another victim who spoke to our
reporter, Daniel Job, who lives in Mararaba said: “I came with my
brother to board a bus to town, and because there was no motor from
Mararaba to town, I decided to enter a bike from Maraba to Nyanya, so
that we could board a bus to town. After buying the ticket at Nyanya
motor park, I discovered that the first bus had got filled up and we
were asked to enter the second one, on our way to enter the next bus,
that was when I heard the bomb explosion. After the explosion, I
discovered that I just had a little injury and started looking for my
brother and sister, who were already inside the bus I missed.” I came
out of the car through the window- Busayo Another victim, Mr. Adeoye
Busayo, 40 year-old security consultant at a private security firm in
Abuja, said he left his house around 6.00 am with “my Nissan sunny car with some people I wanted to give a lift. “When we got to Nyanya around 6:30 am,
there was a little traffic between Skakoma and the check point. I was
about 30 to 40 meters to Nyanya park; all of a sudden, I heard a
terrible blast, and there was dust everywhere, people were running
helter skelter. Everybody was panicking, though the sound was very
terrifying, after the first blast, all my windscreen and side glasses
were already shattered because of the vibration. “Then I heard another
blast. This time, I just heard a terrible noise at the roof of my car; I
managed to escape through the window because the door could not open. I
over-heard the people in my car shouting help, help and blood was
gushing out of their bodies. “At this point, the weather became dark
because there was durst everywhere. We started running and I saw a lady
fail down from my car after struggling to get out of the car through
the back glass and fire from
the car at my back caught her. “Everybody behind me all left their cars
and ran away, instead of people running for safety, because you could
neither see your back nor your front, they ran to where the fire was
raging because it was only that direction of the fire that was a little
bit illuminated, that was what deceived a lot of people.” Abdul Isiaka,
a welder at Golden Club company in Nyanya, said: “We had been at the
garage since 6 am and when we could not
enter the first bus, we decided to enter the second bus, in the process
of entering, all of a sudden, I saw smoke under the El-Rufai bus and we
started running, after running to a distance, the bomb exploded, and
trying to cross to the other side of the road, another one exploded,
that was how I got injured. “It did not take too long before the rescue
team came, in fact I went to them because I was crying for help,” said
the 23 year old Mararaba resident. I just found my self on the ground-
Sake Another victim, Anquer Sake, 40, a public servant in Asokoro, who
lives in Orozo area said: “I got to Nyanya park, got my ticket and
queued, I just found myself on the ground, I did not know how I was
brought here at Asokoro hospital. I just did my x-ray, waiting for the
result because I got an injury on my head. The worst hit The worst hit
were inter-state commuters going to the Northern states of Benue,
Bauchi, Nassarawa, Gombe, Tarraba, as well as, workers leaving the park
to the city centre. Others were: Petty traders, food vendors, Okada
riders, tea brewers popularly called Mai-Shai and vehicles conveying
passengers to various locations within and outside the FCT. Inside the
hospitals The effect of the explosion on the dead was so gruesome that
at the Asokoro and Wuse general hospitals, as the bodies were seen
mangled, charred and sickly to even look at. At the Maitama General
Hospital, where scores were rushed to, the Chief Medical Director, Dr.
Adetoun Sotimehin confirmed to reporters that 14 dead bodies including
women, men and youths were in the mortuary, two persons were on danger
list (critical condition) while 27 others who sustained injuries were
receiving treatment. At Asokoro General Hospital, the Chief Medical
Director, Ahmadu Abubakar confirmed that 27 dead bodies were brought to
the hospital with 25 others receiving treatment for various degrees of
injuries. Staff of the hospital were later heard announcing that they
needed blood donors from among the crowd of people that gathered round
to enable them administer them on some patients. At the National
Hospital Abuja, 30 bodies were confirmed to have been taken to the
mortuary while 40 of those injured were receiving treatment for injuries
sustained. At the Wuse General Hospital, the Chief Medical Director,
Dr. Obiora Chibundu was uncooperative, telling reporters to go to the
office of the GM Hospital Management Board for casualty figures.
Vanguard, however went to the mortuary and counted 16 corpses of the
elderly, men, women and young boys whose extremely burnt bodies were
being covered with cellophane bags by officials of the hospital,
assisted by the police, NEMA and Civil Defence personnel. A list of
another 51 persons containing those injured was made available to
relations to check for their loved ones. On the list, 40 were classified
as injured but recognizable while 11 were classified as injured but
unrecognized. At the Nyanya General Hospital, It was confirmed that over
100 persons with various degrees of injuries were rushed there for
treatment while the dead were referred to other hospitals because the
Nyanya hospital cannot boast of a functional mortuary presently. At the
Asokoro, Wuse and Maitama general hospitals, Vanguard observed that
there was serious apprehension as scores of people who came to check if
their relations were there could not get clear information of what to
do. Meanwhile, the Police authorities have released what they said is
the official list of casualties, saying that 71 persons were confirmed
dead while 124 were injured. 16 luxury buses belonging to the FCT, 24
other privately owned vehicles were damaged with three of the luxury
buses burnt to ashes. Mr Romanus Ugwu, an Abuja-based journalist,
resident at Nyanya, said that he ran to the scene on hearing the blast.
Ugwu said what he saw could be best described as a “gory sight” because
many people were burning in some cars and were calling for help that
never came to them while some were on the ground, helpless without
limbs. “You have to be hard hearted to look at these things. I saw a
woman lying face down without limbs while one, who was surrounded by her
children, struggled for life and gave up in their arms. “These
attackers appear to be more proactive than our rescue organisations and
security agencies because so many lives would have been saved if help
had come in time.’’ Ugwu said he counted many bodies littered on the
ground in the park, but could not say if all of them were dead. Mr
Abdulrazak Haruna of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
(CBRN) Response Unit of NSCDC, told NAN that he counted more than 100
bodies, including the injured while evacuating victims. “It is a sad
experience. We counted 20 BRT buses, 14 cars, 24 commuter buses and 13
motorcycles.’’ Mr Femi Lawal, a survivor of the blast who could not
contain his joy and gratitude to God for sparing him, said he had
dropped from one of the green buses from One-man Village and was heading
to the park when the blast went off. Lawal said he fell and was dazed
momentarily before realising what had happened. He said that he heard a
loud bang, which nearly blinded him, and saw a thick smoke while people
ran in confusion. The 32-year old man, who was apparently wounded on the
wrist and neck, said “it is a day I will live to remember”. A survivor,
Prince Igwe, however, said a vehicle was driven into the park and
parked in front of the already loaded high capacity buses. “The driver
hurriedly parked and disappeared shortly after the explosion went off. I
was inside one of the buses; I struggled to come out. “Many people
died,” he said. Security agencies on red alert in FCT— Mba Abuja,
Security agencies have been placed on red alert throughout the Federal
Capital Territory following the explosion that occurred in Nyanya bus
stop on Monday morning. CSP Frank Mba, Police Force spokesman, told
newsmen in Abuja at the scene of the incident that the blast occurred at
about 6.55 a.m. “The FCT police are already on red alert; security in
and around Abuja is being strengthened; we are paying very close
attention to all vulnerable points. “We are also paying close attention
to motor parks. We advise the public to avoid unnecessary huge crowd. We
are also paying close attention to government buildings. “We want to
appeal for calm, cooperation and patience,” he said, describing the
incident as sad. Mba confirmed that 16 high capacity buses, some cars
and motorcycles were affected in the explosion. He said investigation
had begun. “Experts from the Bomb Disposal Squad are on ground, the
police are working with other security agencies. “At this stage, we may
not be able to give the casualty figure; the reasons are obvious; a lot
of people are in the hospital; our detectives are visiting hospitals and
taking count. “We want to give you figures that we can back up with
facts,” he said. Remain calm — IGP Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of
Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has urged the citizens and the international
community to remain calm and vigilant saying the Police and other
security agencies were stepping up measures to uncover the authors of
the crime and avoid a reoccurrence of this unfortunate incident.
Speaking during his visit to the scene of the explosion where he
assessed the extent of damage and the impact on the surrounding
environment, the IG noted that security agents have relentlessly worked
round the clock with significant success to stave off such attacks on
the Federal Capital and the entire country at large. He therefore
reassured Nigerians and foreign nationals that security agencies will do
anything possible to further strengthen the security within and beyond
Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As a result, the IG directed all Police
operatives to be on red alert. He has equally ordered the Police to
intensify surveillance on all vulnerable targets within Abuja. A
statement signed by CSP Frank Mba said: “Meanwhile, the Police,
supported by other law enforcement agencies, have commenced a full-scale
investigation into the incident with the deployment of the Police
Anti-Bomb Squad and other detectives to the scene with the view to
solving the crime. “Regrettably, seventy-one (71) persons have been
confirmed dead while one hundred and twenty-four (124) persons sustained
various degrees of injuries” he said. “While commiserating with the
families of the victims of the blasts, the IGP called on the members of
the public to go about their normal businesses without fear and to
cooperate with the Police by providing useful information in order to
ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book”
the statement said.
Police arrest twins for robbery, burglary
A set of twins, Taiye and Kehinde Balogun, (pictured above) have been
arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos for robbing a
factory belonging to
Reckitt Benckiser, Punch reports.
Police authorities said the brothers, who were welders, were hired by
a robbery gang to break into the company's warehouse in May last year.
The robbery gang robbed the company of soap, noodles and chemicals worth
N17million.
After their arrest, the 27 year old twins claimed that they were not aware that they were being hired for a robbery operation.
Kehinde said;
“Around May last year, we were called by one guy known as Yankee who lives near our workshop in Agbara. He took us to meet one Deji. Deji claimed to be a storekeeper at the factory, saying he had misplaced his key. He took us to the warehouse and said we should break the locks open. After breaking the locks, they told us to help them load the chemicals into some trucks. They said they were under instructions to transfer the cartons to another warehouse. After helping them load the goods, we were given N10,000 each.”
But the police do not believe their story. They insist that the twins
were aware that it was a robbery operation. Plus other suspects arrested
along with the twins said the twins had been informed of the operation
beforehand.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Dencia gets interview request from ABC News
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