NLY rubbles remained yesterday of a hitherto boisterous People’ s Hotel, Bauchi, after a night bomb attack by terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram.
Thirteen persons died in the attack, 10 of them were killed on the spot while the others died during treatment in the hospital.
Some of the victims were football fans who had converged on the popular brothel’s bar to watch highlights of the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.
Time was about 9.50pm.
Twenty eight persons were injured, some critically, according to the police.
Governor Isa Yuguda condemned the blast and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
A man was arrested in connection with the explosion which occurred about six hours after policemen in nearby Kano discovered 13 high calibre Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) close to a mosque in the metropolis, and three days after explosives ripped the busy Emab Shopping Plaza, Wuse, Abuja.
Twenty-one people died on the spot in the Abuja incident while two others, hit by shrapnel from the explosives died 24 hours later.
The Bauchi hotel blast occurred at Bayan-Gari area of the metropolis as business was in full swing for the call girls and their customers.
Residents of the area said as many as 23 people may have died, 13 more than the 10 confirmed by Police Commissioner Lawal Shehu.
The injured were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital [ATBUTH] Bauchi for treatment and the corpses deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.
The hotel had over 30 rooms, a bar and a restaurant.
A 21-one year old sex worker at the hotel, who merely identified herself as Ladi, said many of the victims were “either drinking or seeing their girls when the blast occurred.’’
An eye-witness, Malam Ahmed Maidoki told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that five persons in military uniform carried out the attack by detonating explosives and shooting at random.
“We were watching highlights of the ongoing FIFA World Cup at the viewing centre located in between the two story building of the hotel when five men dressed in military uniform strolled in.
“We thought they were security personnel, who came to relax. I noticed they all positioned themselves in the four corners of the hall. The next thing I heard was an explosion, after which the arena was covered by thick smoke. My friends and I lay on the ground.
“We were trying to get out when the five men started shooting sporadically at any one who tried to stand up, and in the process, killed many of the survivors of the blast,’’ he said.
Another eye-witness, Usman Hassan, said he was about entering the hotel when the blast occurred and immediately ran away from the scene.
“As soon as I was a bit far from the scene, I heard gun-shots. A few minutes later, a white Toyota Hillux vehicle zoomed out of the hotel at a high speed with men wearing army uniform”, he said.
Friday’s was the second attack on the hotel by suspected terrorists.
Briefing reporters on the incident yesterday, Police Commissioner Shehu advised the public to “pay special attention to persons and objects, particularly at motor parks, market places, schools, places of worship, shopping malls, eateries and hotels.
“They should report any suspicious persons or objects within their neighbourhood, to the nearest police station for prompt response, using these numbers – 08151849417 and 07013490795.”
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami told newsmen separately that 34 injured people were taken to the hospital on Friday night.
Seventeen of that number, according to him, had minor injuries. They were treated and immediately discharged.
He added: “There are 17 others with varying degree of injuries, who are still on admission, but we are hoping that many of them would be discharged today (Saturday) while a few others will have to go to the theatre because of the seriousness of their injuries.
“Unfortunately, 13 people have so far been confirmed dead. 10 dead bodies were brought to the hospital yesterday (Friday) night and three more victims died in the hospital.
“What the hospital did was a process where the doctors decide those who are critically injured that must go to the theatre, those who are injured but can be managed at the trauma centre and those who can be treated and be discharged immediately.”
The Bauchi State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross condemned the attack, describing it as ‘barbaric and inhuman’.
The state’s secretary, Malam Mohammed Bashir, told NAN that the organisation received a call around 9.50 on Friday night, about the attack.
“Immediately I received the call, I and my men rushed to the scene to provide First Aid treatment to the victims. Afterwards, we, along with the State Emergency Management Agency, police, military and the SSS personnel, evacuated them to the hospital.
“We still carried out search and rescue operation at the scene this morning (Saturday) to ensure that every injured person was evacuated. It was a terrible experience,‘ ‘Bashir said.
Reacting to the blast, Governor Isa Yuguda condemned the act of terrorism.
He commiserated with the families of the victims and wished the injured a quick recovery.
The Governor regretted that the incident came just at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan but assured the people of the state that his government remains committed to the protection of life and property
He asked them to go about their normal and legitimate businesses without any fear of harassment from anybody and should be mindful of the person next to them for security reason.
He wished all Muslims a successful 2014 Ramadan fasting and prayed that Allah might grant them all the bounties of holy month.
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday whilevisiting the scene of Wednesday’s Abuja bomb blast. that Nigeria had entered one of the darkest phases of its history.
