painful

Abuja explosion update: Bomb hidden inside
Volkswagen Golf vehicle, witness says
Sani Tukur - 38 mins ago
NATIONAL, NEWS
The Abuja explosion occurred at about 6:30 a.m.
The explosive device that went off at Nyanya motor
park killing an estimated 200 people was hidden in
a volkswagen golf vehicle that was driven into the
park and detonated, a witness has said.
The witness, who is also the driver of one of the
high-capacity buses caught in the blast, said this
to PREMIUM TIMES at the park.
This is contrary to earlier reports that the bomb
was placed in one of the high-capacity buses.
The witness, Dalhatu Garba, also said the bomb
exploded when most of the buses in the front row
where full and ready to convey passengers.
“We just heard a loud explosion and many people
died instantly. In fact, many people were scattered
into pieces,” he said.
Mr. Garba explained the usual scenario at the park
to shed light on the magnitude of the attack.
“Apart from our buses, many other smaller cars
also come in to pick passengers especially those
going on long journey,” he said.
PREMIUM TIMES observed a large crater created by
the blast right in front of the buses.
On casualty figure, Mr. Garba simply said “my
brother many people died, I can’t even give you
figure”.
He, however, said most of the people who died
were inside smaller vehicles close to the golf car.
The Police spokesperson, Frank Mba, who
accompanied the Inspector General of Police,
Mohammed Abubakar, on a visit to the scene, said
emergency workers are still collating the casualty
figure.
He urged journalists to be patient and wait for the
official figures.
Apart from the police chief, the DIG in charge of
operations of the Police; the Director General of the
National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA,
Sani Sidi; and the Interior Minister, Abba Moro, all
visited the scene of the blast.
Sources at the scene said President Goodluck
Jonathan might also visit the scene anytime from
now.
PREMIUM TIMES has also learnt that injured
victims have been taken to about seven hospitals
for treatment, while corpses were deposited at
General Hospitals in Nyanya and Asokoro, as well
as the National Hospital.
Meanwhile, in a statement, NEMA said the
explosion occurred at 6:30 a.m.
The agency’s information officer, Sani Batti, also
warned ordinary
citizens to keep off the explosion scene.
“The agency has found it necessary to also warn
ordinary citizens to keep off the bomb explosion
scene,” Mr. Batti said.
He said the agency was yet to ascertain the
casualty figure.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast,
although the Boko Haram terrorist group has
carried out similar attacks in the past