“I Saw Many People In The Bus Dead”, Says Abuja Bomb Blast Witness
Some of the survivors of the twin bomb blasts at Nyanya Bus Station, Abuja have spoken about their lucky escape.
One of them is Mr Chima Okere, a businessman.
In an interview with NAN, he said the explosions came from two white buses parked inside the Nyanya Motor Park by the gate.
“I was inside the El-Rufai (high
capacity) bus as we were driving out to the highway we heard the
explosion from the two buses. I saw so many people dead; some with their
limbs dismembered from their bodies.
President Jonathan at the Asokoro General Hospital to console the injured. AFP
“I was lucky, I do not know how I survived. So, I thank God for my life as very many were not so lucky,’’ Okere said.
Another survivor, Ms Charity Enang from Cross River, said she was inside a coaster bus when the blast occurred.
“All we heard was `boom’ and I saw people’s flesh flying out of the window of the bus.
“I couldn’t stand after I fell in
the bus but one man carried me out of the bus and took me to an
ambulance that brought me to Nyanya hospital,’’ she said.
A relative of a survivor, Mr Friday
Attah, a driver, who lives in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, told NAN that
his brother’s cab was damaged by the blast.
“Somebody called to inform me that
they saw my brother at Nyanya hospital and I am thankful to God that he
is stable and alive,’’ Attah’s relative said.
The police and hospital sources have
confirmed 71 people dead in the early morning bomb explosion at Nyanya,
Abuja, Mass Transit Park explosion.
The Force Public Relations Officer,
CSP Frank Mba, said 71 people died, while 174 others were injured in the
explosion which occurred at the rush hour.
Nyanya bomb: the dead on the floor. AFP
Dr Adetohun Osotimehin, the Chief
Medical Director of Maitama General Hospital, told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) that 14 dead and 27 injured people were brought into the
hospital.
She said that two others who were in critical conditions would be transferred to the National Hospital for treatment.
She promised that the hospital would do everything within its capacity to ensure that those alive were given proper care.
The authorities of Wuse General Hospital confirmed that 15 dead people were brought into the hospital.
Vehicles burning after the bombing of Nyanya Park
Mr John Nimzing, the Head of
Mortuary attendants in the hospital, told NAN that 11 people were
brought in dead while four died on arrival at the hospital.
At Asokoro General Hospital, the
Chief Medical Director, Dr Amodu Abubakar, said 27 bodies were deposited
in the hospital morgue, while 25 people were receiving treatment for
their wounds.
He, however, said that more victims were still being brought to the hospital.
He advised relatives of the victims to visit the hospital information centre to obtain information about their relations.
At the National Hospital, Abuja, 15
bodies were reported to have been deposited at the hospital morgue while
the number of casualties was not known.
No fewer than 40 casualties were receiving emergency treatment at the hospital.
Dr Yakubu Bukar, Consultant,
Accident and Emergency, Garki Hospital, confirmed that one injured
person was brought to the hospital.
He told NAN that the injured, Chima
Okere was attended to upon arrival and found not to be in critical
condition. According to him, the person sustained injuries at the back
of his head and required several stitches.
Bukar said Garki Hospital was a
private hospital so victims were not brought in to the clinic except for
those whose relatives could afford the bill.
At Nyanya General Hospital, the authorities said no fewer than 100 injured persons received treatment.
Dr Frank Idekwu, the Chief Medical
Director of the hospital, said scores of the wounded were referred to
other hospitals for further medical attention.
The hospital, located less than 200m
from the scene of the explosion, was the first port of call for those
who sustained injuries.
“For those without open wounds we did a quick examination and asked them to report another day,’’ he said.
Idekwu said the hospital had compiled a list of all persons treated and on admission at the hospital.
He advised those whose relatives had yet to be accounted for to verify from the hospital.
Meanwhile, the hospital, which is
designed for women and children, has become a bee-hive of activity as
relatives, friends and families combed the wards in search for their
loved ones.
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