Some of the hospitalised
victims of the Emab Plaza explosion in Abuja on Thursday recounted their
experience and thanked God for sparing their lives. The explosion had
happened on Wednesday.
victims of the Emab Plaza explosion in Abuja on Thursday recounted their
experience and thanked God for sparing their lives. The explosion had
happened on Wednesday.
Bomber pretended to be drunk –Tyokasi
Tyokasi, a 22-year-old student of the
National Open University of Nigeria, said, “I am studying Business
Entrepreneurship and Management.
National Open University of Nigeria, said, “I am studying Business
Entrepreneurship and Management.
“On that fateful day, I just crossed
over to buy corn because I was a bit hungry. I bought the corn but
when I turned back, I saw the man (bomber) driving a Toyota Sienna
and trying to get into the plaza through the exit gate. The security
men told him to go back and follow the right way but he was behaving as
if he was drunk.
over to buy corn because I was a bit hungry. I bought the corn but
when I turned back, I saw the man (bomber) driving a Toyota Sienna
and trying to get into the plaza through the exit gate. The security
men told him to go back and follow the right way but he was behaving as
if he was drunk.
“Within seconds after I left that point,
I heard a big bang and found myself on the ground. My right leg was
affected. Presently, I can’t stand with it.
I heard a big bang and found myself on the ground. My right leg was
affected. Presently, I can’t stand with it.
The bomber bought newspaper from me –Ojeh
Nineteen -year-old Ojeh said the
bomber first bought a newspaper from him and asked irrelevant questions
before leaving to enter his vehicle.
bomber first bought a newspaper from him and asked irrelevant questions
before leaving to enter his vehicle.
“One man wearing caftan came to
buy a newspaper from me and was asking me irrelevant questions. Even
when I wanted to give him his change, he wasn’t ready to collect it. He
kept asking me irrelevant questions. If I answer him, he would laugh and
ask another question. Afterwards, he left and entered his vehicle close
to the exit gate of the plaza. It was not long after he left that
there was an explosion and I saw myself on the road before the police
came .”
I saw corpses everywhere – Ademola
Twenty four –year-old Ademola, who is a
fashion designer, also said the bomber insisted on going into the
Plaza through the exit gate.
fashion designer, also said the bomber insisted on going into the
Plaza through the exit gate.
He added, “When he (bomber) was
challenged by the security men at the exit gate, he insisted on going
ahead. As he bent his head towards the Sienna that he was driving, I
told my friend that we should get away from there.
challenged by the security men at the exit gate, he insisted on going
ahead. As he bent his head towards the Sienna that he was driving, I
told my friend that we should get away from there.
“Within a few seconds, there was an
explosion. Many people died and that is why I give thanks to Almighty
God. I saw many corpses on the ground. Heads, hands and legs littered
everywhere.
explosion. Many people died and that is why I give thanks to Almighty
God. I saw many corpses on the ground. Heads, hands and legs littered
everywhere.
I thought my head was blown off
–Olatunji
Olatunji, a student of
Biology/Integrated Science at the Federal College of Education,
Kontangora, Niger State, said he arrived in Abuja from Oyo State on
Wednesday only to be welcomed by the blast.
Biology/Integrated Science at the Federal College of Education,
Kontangora, Niger State, said he arrived in Abuja from Oyo State on
Wednesday only to be welcomed by the blast.
He said, “I came from Oyo State
yesterday (Wednesday) to hussle and make some money for my school fees
before the end of the strike by Polytechnics and colleges of
education workers.
yesterday (Wednesday) to hussle and make some money for my school fees
before the end of the strike by Polytechnics and colleges of
education workers.
“As a casual staff with Glo, I normally
get Sim cards to sell and make some money. The incident happened when
we were going to the mosque to observe the 4pm prayer. On our way, we
saw some people arguing and they didn’t allow a car to enter the
plaza.
get Sim cards to sell and make some money. The incident happened when
we were going to the mosque to observe the 4pm prayer. On our way, we
saw some people arguing and they didn’t allow a car to enter the
plaza.
“As the argument continued, I heard an
explosion and immediately, I saw human flesh and bones littering
everywhere. I was confused and I din’t know what I was doing again. I
thought my head had been blown off by the blast. I touched my head
while on the ground and realised that it was there. I stood up and was
looking for help, but help didn’t come immediately.
explosion and immediately, I saw human flesh and bones littering
everywhere. I was confused and I din’t know what I was doing again. I
thought my head had been blown off by the blast. I touched my head
while on the ground and realised that it was there. I stood up and was
looking for help, but help didn’t come immediately.
Taxi driver cheats death
A taxi driver, who identified himself as Malachy Odo, said he was caught up in
the midst of the ravaging fire after the bomb exploded at the car park of Emab
Plaza.
A taxi driver, who identified himself as Malachy Odo, said he was caught up in
the midst of the ravaging fire after the bomb exploded at the car park of Emab
Plaza.
He said: “I had arrived at the plaza
in my cab minutes earlier. After the last passenger alighted from the cab, I
was reversing when I heard the explosion. My car went up in flames, and I
struggled to pass through the window and in the process my left hand caught
fire. As I was running for my dear life, broken glasses pierced my feet.
I was later rushed by rescuers to Maitama General Hospital.”
in my cab minutes earlier. After the last passenger alighted from the cab, I
was reversing when I heard the explosion. My car went up in flames, and I
struggled to pass through the window and in the process my left hand caught
fire. As I was running for my dear life, broken glasses pierced my feet.
I was later rushed by rescuers to Maitama General Hospital.”
Another survivor, Mrs Mary Andrew, said she was lying on the ground beside her groundnut
tray, while waiting for buyers at the entrance of Emab Plaza, when the blast
occurred.
tray, while waiting for buyers at the entrance of Emab Plaza, when the blast
occurred.
According to her: “I was lying
down when the bomb exploded, and my baby was also with me. After the blast, I
discovered that three of my fellow groundnut sellers were dead. I was very
lucky, I was not hurt, and I thank God for saving my life.”
down when the bomb exploded, and my baby was also with me. After the blast, I
discovered that three of my fellow groundnut sellers were dead. I was very
lucky, I was not hurt, and I thank God for saving my life.”
I was covered with broken glasses —Olasupo
Samuel Olasupo, who sells and
repairs mobile phones at Emab plaza had this to say: “I was about to take step
out of my shop to the gate to buy corn, when the bomb exploded. I was thrown to
the floor and my body was pierced by pieces of glass. When I recovered from the
impact of the blast, I gave glory to God.” He said the bomb-laden car was said
to have been parked at the entrance of the plaza for more than 30 minutes with
nobody inside.
repairs mobile phones at Emab plaza had this to say: “I was about to take step
out of my shop to the gate to buy corn, when the bomb exploded. I was thrown to
the floor and my body was pierced by pieces of glass. When I recovered from the
impact of the blast, I gave glory to God.” He said the bomb-laden car was said
to have been parked at the entrance of the plaza for more than 30 minutes with
nobody inside.
Another eyewitness who spoke to
Vanguard identified himself as Joseph Okonkwo. Okonkwo who said he is a journalist
said his office was located at Emab Plaza. He said he writes for Legis Magazine
based in Abuja.
Vanguard identified himself as Joseph Okonkwo. Okonkwo who said he is a journalist
said his office was located at Emab Plaza. He said he writes for Legis Magazine
based in Abuja.
Said he: “As I was entering
Emab Plaza, yesterday (Wednesday), I walked past a particular shop I
normally go to which is close to the gate. I later saw the person I went to
visit and discussed with him after which I suddenly heard a big bang. A lot of
things flew into the air. I saw a lot of smoke.
Emab Plaza, yesterday (Wednesday), I walked past a particular shop I
normally go to which is close to the gate. I later saw the person I went to
visit and discussed with him after which I suddenly heard a big bang. A lot of
things flew into the air. I saw a lot of smoke.
“I began to run and when I was
about to jump a fence, I saw some people whose skin had been peeled
by the heat generated by the blast. They were trying to jump too. Everybody ran
to the back side because the explosion occurred at the gate. Some people
who were close to me were affected by the blast. The impact of the blast is
still disturbing me. I was psychologically affected but physically okay.”
about to jump a fence, I saw some people whose skin had been peeled
by the heat generated by the blast. They were trying to jump too. Everybody ran
to the back side because the explosion occurred at the gate. Some people
who were close to me were affected by the blast. The impact of the blast is
still disturbing me. I was psychologically affected but physically okay.”
Our close shave with death — Abuja blast survivors
– See more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/close-shave-death-abuja-blast-survivors/#sthash.049cYQYn.dpuf
Our close shave with death — Abuja blast survivors
– See more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/close-shave-death-abuja-blast-survivors/#sthash.049cYQYn.dpuf