How We Escaped Abuja Bomb Blast...Victims Recount Experience

For the second time in barely three weeks ,Nyanyan, a suburb of Abuja, came under another deadly blast on Thursday when Nigerian workers and their global counterparts chose to celebrate Workers Day. As usual, the explosion left in its wake tears, blood and sorrow.

The latest blast occurred near a park close to the scene of the first explosion in Nyanya despite routine security checks.

Security operatives and men of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were at the scene of the incident to attend to the victims.

Bodies of victims were taken to the mortuaries at Asokoro Hospital; Maitama Hospital; Wuse Hospital; National Hospital and Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, among others.

A total of 85 persons were involved with 60 persons receiving treatment in hospitals. Six persons have been treated and discharged, while 19 were confirmed dead.

At the National Hospital, our correspondent witnessed the arrival of ambulances from the scene of the incident as they brought in the injured and dead bodies.

Before their arrivals, the hospital was fully mobilised and medical personnel gave prompt attention to the injured. Most of the victims suffered various degrees of burns, while some had fracture on parts of their bodies.

 Those who managed to work were aided by medical personnel, while those who cannot stand or walk were brought to the hospital on stretcher. At a point, the head of the medical team pleaded with sympathisers who had stormed the hospital on hearing about the blast to donate blood, stressing that such donation will go a long way to save lives. The appeal got a favourable response as many volunteered.

At the Asokoro General Hospital,  security was beefed up as there was restriction to check influx of people.

SURVIVORS RECOUNT HORROR

One of the survivors, who is a fruit seller at the park, Aminu Umar, explained how he escaped death by a whiskers saying: “I had arrived late for business on the day of the incident but someone else had taken over my usual spot and refused to vacate; hence, I set up my stand beside a suya seller. “

“The blast was scary. A motorcycle operator was beside the car that exploded. The motorcycle and its operator were the first to catch fire before the fire engulfed other cars. When I realised what had happened, I ran off. The Suya seller, who did not run but stayed back to watch the scene, paid dearly for his indiscretion. A piece of iron flew out of the burning car and broke his head into two.

“Unfortunately, the fruit seller that took over my spot died in the explosion. I ran to my elder brother across the road and he rushed me first to the Nyanya General Hospital. But the doctors had so many people to treat; hence, I was moved to a private hospital in Maraba, where my brother paid N4,000 for my treatment. The injuries were stitched and I was discharged in the morning.

“I had just purchased oranges worth N5,000 and barely made N450 from sales before the unfortunate incident ruined my business”.

Another survivor, Chief Obiora Anibuike, a business man, narrated his ordeal. He said: “I was returning from Masaka in my Honda car when I heard a bang when we got to a spot close to a flyover. And because the doors of the car were locked, I had to jump out through the window. My head was drenched in blood and I shouted for help. Bystanders quickly covered my head with clothe but I did not know what was wrong until I was taken to Asokoro Hospital where I later saw other victims of the blast”.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

 An eye-witness, who spoke in confidence, told a story of a couple who narrowly escaped death. He recalled that the lucky couple whose car had broken down got help from bystanders who pushed their vehicle away from the scene before the bomb went off.

Another eyewitness, Gaza Danladi, said: “The blast occurred at 7:15pm.We knew immediately that it was a bomb because of our experience when a similar explosion occurred a few days ago. A victim was shouting for help near the car that exploded saying: ‘Come and help me! Do you want me to die? Do you want this fire to consume me? Come and help me! Come and help me!’

“On rushing there, there was no ambulance or security agent around to rescue him while the car was on fire. Two of the victims had their heads split into two, while a victim was cut into three.

“Some victims were either killed or injured by hard objects that flew out of the vehicle. Before the ambulance of the Federal Capital Management Agency (FEMA), which was stationed around Karu Bridge, arrived, we tried as much as we could to help those that were still breathing. It was a terrible scene because the skin of many of the victims peeled off while being rescued. Some had broken legs and arms and it took about 30 or 40 minutes before security agencies arrived.

“The driver of the FEMA ambulance was so confused when he arrived the scene. He kept moving while we were trying to put some of the victims into his vehicle. We had to insist that he stopped because there were so many victims on the ground who needed urgent medical attention.

 “It took the Nyanyan Fire Service a long time to arrive the scene despite the fact that the incident happened in their domain. Men of the Asokoro Fire Service got to the scene before their Nyanya counterparts.

“There were no security agencies around like they used to be at Nyanyan because if they were on ground, we would have seen them when we started rescuing people. We were left to help the victims on our own.”

RESIDENTS SPEAK

Jemila Bello, a student, said: “I was trying to cross the road when I heard a bang and I quickly turned back. President Goodluck Jonathan, please save Nigerians. Many innocent souls are dying.”

Another resident, Shola Oleniji said: “We do not have security. President Goodluck Jonathan should order security agencies to be responsive. At the scene, I saw 17 dead bodies on the ground.”

Lamenting the ugly incident, another eyewitness,   Mr. Ebu Godswill, said: “The Golf car that was used came through Nasarawa Road. That means the vehicle travelled all the way to this place without passing through security checks on the road. If the vehicle could beat security agents or check points before coming here, then it shows we have no security in this country. These Boko Haram members are within us here; they live around here, government should bring bomb detectors to search people. A poor person cannot manufacture or buy bombs, it is the rich that send these people to carry out this dastardly act”.

The Sarkin Nyanya, Danladi Iya, said: “When the blast went off yesterday, everyone was confused. The casualties this time around were mainly those at the park. No one expected that another blast would occur so soon after a similar one went off at the same location a few days ago.

“Why Nyanya all the time? We the poor do not have any knowledge of what is going on except that we are being killed for nothing. We leave Boko Haram to God because they are answerable to God on judgement.”