The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja blast

  • Security operatives keep watch at Abuja blasts scene

    Two days after the multiple bomb blasts in Kuje, on the suburb of Abuja in which several people were killed and others injured, security operatives are still keeping vigil at the scene.

    Business activities are still on hold as shops in the affected area are under lock and key.

    Nobody is allowed to move close to the scene.

    Residents and other passerby are still in shock over the incident.

    The Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) on Sunday condemned the bomb blasts in a statement signed by the party’s National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters.

    “We vehemently denounce the killing of innocent Nigerians by misguided terrorists. It is outrageous, obnoxious, detestable and barbaric. Our hearts go out to the families that lost their loved ones.

  • Abuja blasts: Buhari vows to end violent extremism

    Abuja blasts: Buhari vows to end violent extremism

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday reiterated the determination of his administration to rid the country of  extremism and  eradicating violence.

    He made the remark while speaking in Abuja after receiving briefing from a fact-finding team he sent to the parts of the Federal Capital territory which came under terrorist bombings on Friday evening.

    According to him, for terrorism to be uprooted from the country, the society must be rid of violent extremism.

    “The defeat of Boko Haram insurgency is in sight but to remove violence and make the country safe, we must tackle the prevalence of violent extremism. In doing this, we will learn from the experience of the international community,” President Buhari assured.

    A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as directing the security services to raise their surveillance activities to meet the challenges of a retreating, desperate terrorist army and for the general public to remain acutely aware of security in and around them.

    He sympathized with  the families of the victims of the incidents as well as the families of the more than a hundred others who were killed in similar incidents a few days ago in Borno State.

    The fact-finding team visited the Kuje and Nyanya bombing sites and greeted victims of the incidents at the National Hospital and the Maitama General Hospital.

    They inspected the wards and mortuaries and consoled grieving family members on behalf of the President.

    The fact-finding team was made up of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,Engr. Babachir David Lawal, the Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and that of the Federal Capital Territory as well as the police commissioner in charge of the  FCT.

  • Update: Heavy security at Abuja blasts scene

    Security men are keeping watch at the scene of Friday night bomb blast in Nyanya in Abuja.

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase arrived the scene about 11.25am to inspect the damage caused by the twin bomb blast.

    An eyewitness said he counted 10 to 15 bodies burnt beyond recognition in the blasts which reportedly occurred within space of five minutes.

     

    First bomb blast occurred at the Jikwoyi park at 9.20pm and second blast at 9.25pm

     

    Some residents who said they were amongst the first respondents at the scene however said the death toll may not be as high as reported.

  • Photo: Repatriation of Abuja bomb blast mastermind

    Photo: Repatriation of Abuja bomb blast mastermind

    Aminu Ogwuche
    Aminu Ogwuche
  • Abuja blast stops table tennis championships

    Abuja blast stops table tennis championships

    The 11th Aso Table Tennis Club (ATTC) Championships has been postponed indefinitely following the recent bomb blast at Nyanya area of Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament was scheduled to take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium,from May 5 to 11.

    Olusegun Ajuwon, Chairman of ATTC, told newsmen in Abuja on Sunday that the competition was postponed in order not to endanger the lives of no fewer than 300 athletes expected to participate in the event.

    He also said that the closure of government offices, including schools in Abuja from May 7 to 9,for the World Economic Summit also necessitated the postponement.

    Ajuwon said that a new date would be communicated to the public as soon as normalcy was restored.

    “The tournament is being hosted by a club that does not enjoy the luxury of the security outfits in sufficient numbers and capacity.

    “This is to guarantee a hitch-free championships and without any security breach at a time such as this.

    “It is, therefore, a matter of being cautious, realistic and sensitive that warrants that we review the competition as previously planned,” Ajuwon added.

    He noted that the club was in regular touch with the secretariat of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) on the recent developments.

    “The invitation for this year’s edition was directly handled by the NTTF which sent out letters to all the 36 states sports council and the FCT,” Ajuwon said.

    NAN reports that at least N1.5 million is set aside for this year’s championships in addition to a brand new Kia saloon car.

    The car is expected be won by the overall winner of the competition, who will also pocket N250,000.

    The second, third and fourth place finishers will also pocket various amounts as prize money when the competition commences at a later date.

  • U.S condemns Abuja blast

    The United States Embassy on Friday condemned Thursday evening’s explosion in Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja.
    Thursday’s explosion which occurred just few metres away from the scene of last month’s attack, killed nine people and injured 11 others.
    The embassy in a statement issued on Friday morning commiserated with the families of the blast victims.
    “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed or injured in this heinous act.
    “This attack is not only on innocent people but on a democratic nation itself. Lawless violence and intimidation have no place in a democracy.
    “We continue to stand with the Nigerian government and people as they face the threat of violent extremism,” the statement said.

     

  • Nigeria battling worst form of terrorism – Maku

    Nigeria battling worst form of terrorism – Maku

    The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, on Wednesday maintained that the country is witnessing the worst form of terrorism in the world.

    He made the remarks while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Maku wondered what the terrorists will be doing with over 100 young female children kidnapped in a secondary school in Borno State if they were really fighting for religion issues.

    The minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed and the Minister of State for Health, Khaliru Alhassan said that deliberations at the meeting focused mainly on Monday bomb attack at a bus Park in Nyanya, FCT, the kidnapping of the school girls in Borno State and other terrorist activities in the country.

    Condemning the abduction, he said the government is doing everything possible to rescue the girls and bring their abductors to book.

    The Council, he said has not received full official full report on the incident.

    According to him, the Council expressed its collective sorrow and condoled President Jonathan on the unfortunate bomb blast at the Nyanya bus station on Monday and resolved that all Nigerians and institutions must unite against terror.

    Stressing that the purpose of the attacks is to cause confusion and make the government to lose focus, he said that there is a need for all Nigerians to be extra vigilant and every community and state should increase surveillance.

     

     

     

  • APC governors to Jonathan: Fish out Abuja blast perpetrators

    APC governors to Jonathan: Fish out Abuja blast perpetrators

    The All Progressives Congress Governors Forum (APCGF), on Wednesday appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intensify effort to fish out the perpetrators of Monday’s bomb blast in Nyanya, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the Forum, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, made the call when he led his colleagues on a visit to victims of the blast at the National Hospital in the FCT.

    “ We want to request our President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces, to deepen that particular section of our constitution, which guarantees safety of lives and property of the ordinary citizens.

    “ We urge him to show leadership at this moment and do whatever it is within his capacity and capabilities as President to fish out those who are involved in this act.

    “ We are here as APC governors at the National Hospital to visit victims of the Nyanya bomb blast, which was an ugly and unfortunate incident that claimed so many lives,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying during the visit.

    Okorocha, on behalf of the APC governors, commiserated with the families of those who lost their loves ones, saying “ we know they must be in serious pains at this moment.”

    Also speaking, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, advised Nigerians to be vigilant and observe any unusual movement around them.

     

     

  • Ijaw youths to FG: Identify Boko Haram sponsors

    Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to identify, arrest and prosecute persons linked to Boko Haram’s sponsorship.

    IYC said the bloody onslaughts by the terrorist group would not stop until the government fished out the financier and brains behind the insurgency.

    While condemning the Monday deadly attack by Boko Haram on Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the group said it was not enough for the government to always brood over such incident.

    The group in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said the government should not feign ignorance of Boko Haram sponsors.

    It said: “The problem of terrorism cannot be resolved without tackling the source of their sponsorship. The sponsors of Boko Haram should be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The Federal Government cannot claim ignorance of the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria with all the security apparatus at its disposal. Government must act decisively irrespective of whose ox is gored and protect the ordinary people of Nigeria.

    “The interest of the generality of Nigerians is over and above the interest of a few power hungry people who are sponsoring terrorism.”

    IYC further reiterated its earlier position that the objective of the sponsors of Boko Haram and terrorism was to make the country ungovernable and forcefully take over the government of Nigeria.

    “Hence, it is an issue that government must treat with utmost seriousness.

    “We commend the effort of security agencies in tackling the challenge of terrorism and once again state our call for the extension of the existing state of emergency in the North East of Nigeria.

    “The Nyanya attack has shown that Boko Haram has an agenda to extend its activities to other parts of the country once they are successful in overrunning the North East.”

     

  • Abuja blast a national calamity – Arewa

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Tuesday described Monday’s bomb attack in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja as a national calamity.

    A statement issued in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, condemned the action, saying it was inhuman and senseless.

    The Forum called on the insurgents and other aggrieved groups to explore the path of dialogue to ensure peace in the country, adding “the killing of innocent people and destruction of their property is not a solution to any perceived injustice or grievance.”

    “In the last six years, Nigeria has experienced many cases of security challenges like bomb blast, insurgency and gunmen attacks, communal and religious clashes that have culminated into huge loss of lives and destruction of property worth millions of Naira.

    “The present insecurity in the country especially in the Northern region has placed our people in a state of hopelessness and helplessness and crippled the socioeconomic activities of the region.

    “The measures put in place by various levels of government including a state emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to combat the activities of insurgents and terrorists have not yielded the desired result.

    “This is grave and worrisome considering the frequency of attacks which has become a daily affair with colossal loss of lives and property.

    “ACF hereby condemns in strong term the senseless and inhuman act of terrorism being perpetrated by the insurgents and their collaborators against the Nigerian people especially the bomb blast at Nyanya, FCT, where innocent people in pursuit of their legitimate means of livelihood were killed and injured.

    “ACF calls on the Federal Government to decisively use all legitimate means and security apparatus at its disposal to tackle the insecurity that is gradually destroying our corporate existence as a nation.

    “The need for synergy between the security agencies and the community for intelligence gathering and utilisation is necessary in combating this menace,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Forum as saying in the statement.