AFTER a long while, suicide bombers made yesterday a bloody return to Abuja, striking in a packed motor park on the outskirts of the city.
The insurgent group, Boko Haram, is suspected to have carried out the attack in which 150 people died. The police said 71 died, 124 injured.
But last night Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu released an official figures of horror.
He said 72 people died, 164 injured.
Most of the victims were workers, artisans and unemployed people trying to board cheap SURE-P buses early in the morning.
About 40 vehicles were burnt during the blast, including 16 luxury buses and 24 other commercial vehicles. At the scene were women’s handbags, shoes and other personal effects.
Eight mortuaries were filled to the brim. Hospitals were pleading for blood donation to save lives.
British High Commissioner to Nigerian Andrew Pocock led other officials of the High Commission to the national blood transfusion centre in Abuja to donate blood for the treatment of the victims. Many Nigerians also donated blood.
Some of the clinics are National Hospital, Maitama General Hospital, Garki Hospital, Asokoro General Hospital, Wuse, General Hospital and Nyanya General Hospital,
National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki held an emergency meeting with the Service Chiefs.
Although a preliminary probe of the incident by all security agencies was in progress as at press time, it was learnt that the body of one of the suspected suicide bombers had been deposited at the Wuse General Hospital.
The incident happened between 6.30am and 6.55am at a bus terminal in Nyanya where a teeming crowd of commuters had converged to catch buses to work .
It was gathered that the blast went off while some of the commuters had boarded about 10 of the luxury buses and others were scrambling for seats in 20 commercial vehicles.
The blast created a two feet deep, ten feet wide crater and threw objects as far as 200 metres.
A top security officer, who pleaded not to be named because he is not allowed to talk to the media, said: “From preliminary findings, a Golf car, XQ 229LSD, was parked near the buses where commuters had converged.
“Report indicated that five insurgents came out of the car, pretending to be waiting to join a bus.
“But these insurgents had barely alighted when the remote controlled bomb went off.
“As a matter of fact, one of the suicide bombers was killed and his body was deposited at Wuse General Hospital. We saw all manner of charms or amulets on his chest.”
Another source said: “We learnt the Golf car rammed into the buses in what appeared a clear case of suicide mission.
“Within the twinkle of an eye, about 10 luxury buses were in flame. Most of the victims were trapped inside the buses.
“The blast shook all buildings nearby, including another suburb in Karu.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “Boko Haram is likely to be responsible because that is the pattern of suicide mission of the sect.”
Security agencies have started investigation into the explosion, with the retrieval of number plate of the Golf Car.
The car was smothered but some metals have been collected for forensic analysis, which could guide our intelligence gathering on how the explosion occurred.
“Attempts are being made to identify the owner of the car as I am talking to you. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been mandated to get to the root of how the car was registered or how it has exchanged hands,” said the source.
The British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has offered the country’s “deepest condolences” to the bereaved and those who are injured in the bomb blast. he also condemned the attack saying the perpetrators must be brought to “swift justice.”
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), CSP Frank Mba, said: “After the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the scene of bomb explosion this morning in Nyanya District on the outskirts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, security agencies have confirmed that 71 persons have so far lost their lives while 124 others have been conveyed to about eight hospitals for treatment.
“About 16 luxury buses were razed and 24 others were destroyed in the blast.
“Information centres would be opened at all the hospitals where survivors were being attended to in order to provide information to their families.
“Experts from the Bomb Disposal Squad have combed the area. Security agencies have been placed on red alert throughout the Federal Capital Territory following the explosion that occurred at about 6.55 a.m.
“The agencies are already paying very close attention to all vulnerable points, including motor parks.
“Most of the affected passengers were workers and petty traders who were to be conveyed by commercial vehicles to the Abuja City Centre.”
