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Tag: Abuja blast

  • PDP blames APC for Abuja blast

    PDP blames APC for Abuja blast

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the explosion that rocked Abuja on Monday in which over 71 persons were killed and 124 injured.

    In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party condemned as barbaric, monstrous and extremely wicked, the blasts which occurred at Nyanya, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The party said the blasts could not be justified under any guise, maintaining that they were politically motivated and can be traced to the utterances and comments of desperate persons who seek to undermine and discredit the present administration and make the nation ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan by instituting a reign of terror against the people.

    The statement said: “We stand by our earlier statements that these attacks on our people are politically motivated by unpatriotic persons, especially those in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have been making utterances and comments, promoting violence and blood-letting as a means of achieving political control.

    “Nigerians are also aware of utterances by certain APC governors which have been aimed at undermining our security forces and emboldening insurgents against the people.

    “Those who have been promoting violence through their utterances can now see the monster they have created. They can now see the end product of their comments; a country flowing daily with the blood of the innocent.

    “The question is; how do they feel when they see the mangled and blood-soaked bodies of their victims? How do they feel when they hear the voices of the dying and the injured?

    “Of course they feel nothing. Their hearts have been hardened and they are embittered by the fact that they have been rejected by the people. They are bitter because the people have chosen to rally round the government they love and voted for; but must they choose the path of violence and bloodletting as a response to the wishes and aspirations of the people?”

    The ruling party said it was shocked and grief- stricken since it received the news of the gruesome attacks and killing of Nigerians pursuing their legitimate endeavors.

    “The PDP weeps. We are indeed grief-stricken. Our hearts go out to the bereaved, especially those who have been orphaned and widowed and those now deprived of their bread winners by this evil act.

     

     

  • 71 died in Abuja blast – Police

    71 died in Abuja blast – Police

    Police has confirmed that 71 people died and 124 injured in the Abuja motor park explosion. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the figures on Monday afternoon. According to him, 16 luxury buses and 24 other vehicles were affected by the explosion. Most of the victims were passengers and vehicle owners trapped at the blast scene. But the figures could be higher, as Mba added that security agencies were still collating casualty figures at the time of filing this report.

  • Abuja explosion: Security agencies on red alert

    Security agencies have been placed on red alert throughout the Federal Capital Territory following the explosion that occurred in Nyanya bus station on Monday morning.

    The Police Force spokesman, Frank Mba, told journalists in Abuja at the scene of the incident that the blast occurred at about 6.55am.

    “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 and our detectives are visiting hospitals and taking count.

    “We want to give you figures that we can back up with facts,’’ he said.

    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.

    The News Agency of Nigeria also reports that the car was burnt beyond recognition but its chassis number could still be located on the engine.

    A NAN correspondent who got to the scene shortly after the blast, counted about 70 corpses at the scene.

    The huge explosion left a big crater at the scene of the blast.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar; Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Anthony Omozoje and top security personnel visited the scene.

     

  • Abuja blast: Jonathan vows to end insurgency

    Abuja blast: Jonathan vows to end insurgency

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday vowed to do everything possible to end insurgency in the country.

    The President spoke while being conducted round the scene of the Abuja motor park blast on Monday morning.

    He maintained that the issue of Boko Haram is temporary and that Nigeria will overcome it.

    Jonathan, who was accompanied to the scene by the Senate President, David Mark, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muazu, National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and ordered best medical services to be given to the injured.

    He also ordered tight security around the city. From the scene, Jonathan also visited some of the victims hospitalized at the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja. He was conducted round the emergency wards of the hospital by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Abubakar Adamu.

    At the scene of the blast, he said: “You can see that I’m here with the Senate President, David Mark and Chairman of PDP, Ministers, CDS and service chiefs, and all other very senior government functionaries. Let us collectively express our condolences to the families of those who suffered directly on the incident.”

    “I am also commending security services for their prompt action. Though we lost quite a number of people, we condole 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.” He went on:

    “We also want to use this unique opportunity to plead with the media and our great men and women, to come up with enlightenment programme for our people. Those countries that face terror they have developed great awareness. If there are unusual movement of vehicles and bags, they called security and base on this a lot of incidences are contained.”

    “So we believe that if people will become observant and all of us become security conscious by the movement of people, we will be able to reduce some of these incidences.” “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.”