Teddy Oscar, Abuja
Monday, April 14 would be a day that would be difficult to erase from Abuja residents, especially those, who live at the suburb of Nigeria’s capital, including Mararaba, Karu, Jikwoyi,
Kpegeyi, Kurudu, One Man Village, New Karu and even New Nyanya.
Unknown to many, who woke up as early as 4 a.m. to prepare to go to their various places of work and business, that was to be their last day on earth.
Like other Monday mornings, the various parks at Nyanya were filled with people, most of whom were commuters.
Christians, Muslims, traditional believers, northerners, southerners, dark, fair and chocolate complexioned persons, boys, girls, men, women, old and young, who found their way to the popular El-Rufai Park at Nyanya, were slaughtered by a bomb blast that wrecked severe damage to the psyche and bodies of hundreds of Nigerians.
It was a gory scene to behold at the scene, where Nigerians – mostly workers, traders and okada riders – were wasted in their numbers, following a bomb blast at the popular El-Rufai Park by around 6:30 a.m. on Monday.
Although the figures may not be real, official information claims that no fewer than 71 victims were feared dead and 124 others seriously injured, with scores of vehicles burnt in the attack allegedly carried out by a suicide bomber.
Eyewitnesses from as far as Mararaba, Karu, Jikwoyi,
Kpegeyi, Kurudu, One Man Village, New Karu and even New Nyanya, who claimed to have heard the explosion, said that they did not understand what the sound was until the sad news started flying in moments later from phone calls, text messages and on the social media.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was billed to travel to Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday morning, made a brief visit to the scene of the blast, where he urged Nigerians to be conscious and observant of possible security threat around them so as to reduce incidences of terror attacks.
Jonathan, who was accompanied by the Senate President, Senator David Mark,
underscored the need for the media and relevant government and private establishments to initiate security enlightenment programmes.
“We 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 call on security and based 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,” he said.
Jonathan, who expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the incidence, and commended the security services for their prompt action, said that the issue of Boko Haram was temporary, as government would continue to work hard to curtail it.
“Though we lost quite a number of people, we condole with our country men and women. Government is doing everything possible 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. The security services will continue to work very hard. God willing, we will get over it,” he said.
The President later visited the Asokoro General Hospital, where some of the injured victims of
the blast were receiving treatment.
On arrival at the hospital , the President was received by the chief medical director, Dr.
Abubakar Adamu, who briefed him and conducted him round the emergency wards.
The minister of interior, Mr. Abba Moro; National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief
Marshall Alex Barde, other service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, were at the scene.
As at the time of this report, the El-Rufai Park and the one next to it have been cordoned off from the public under the watchful eyes of stern looking and armed to the teeth security operatives.
A look at the nearby Nyanya Market revealed a few dispirited shop owners, as most of the shops were under lock and key.
The part of the Abuja-Keffi highway, which usually accommodate roadside traders from 4 p.m., thereby causing a go slow that sometimes stretches to as far as Abacha Barracks, near AYA, was seen to be deserted, except for scores of onlookers, who stood on the road divider to feast their eyes.
As at the time of filling in this report, the clouds surrounding Nyanya and its environs have gathered in a frown, which can only mean one thing – rainfall.
It is, however, left to be seen, if the rainy season that has just begun in Abuja would be enough to wash away the bloodstained El-Rufai Park, Abuja.
