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Kaduna Blasts: Death Toll Rises To 110
The death toll from the twin bomb explosions that rocked Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, on Wednesday, has risen to 110 after at least 13 out of the severely injured victims have died in the hospitals.
The Tide gathered that there are fears that more victims who sustained life threatening injuries that are currently on danger list at the two hospitals visited yesterday morning might not survive.
The Public Relations Officer of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abubakar Zakari Adamu, who confirmed the figure, yesterday, said 25 corpses were picked from the scene of the blasts at Alkali by Isa Kaita Road, while over 72 bodies were deposited in mortuaries at Saint Gerald General Hospital and 44 Military Reference Hospital.
According to the SEMA PRO, “the staff of the agency worked throughout the night trying ensure that more lives were saved but it is unfortunate that we lost several others.”
One of the victims, Muhammed Sarki, who managed to speak to newsmen at Garkowa Hospital, said: “I thank God for being alive.”
Sarki, who is a trader at Kawo roadside market said: “I saw the Toyota Sienna but before we knew what was happening, I saw myself in the hospital.”
Former military head of state and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has said that the second explosion that ripped through Kaduna on Wednesday was an assassination attempt on his life.
Buhari said this in a statement he signed. “I am personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today (Wednesday) at about 2:30p.m. on my way to Daura.”
A police spokesperson, Aminu Lawan, said investigations have commenced into the incident.
Police had earlier confirmed that 25 persons were killed in the first blast which targeted Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, along Alkali road.
Bauchi was attacked on his way back from Murtala Square, where he had gone to hold the final round of his annual Tafsir programme.
“Twenty five people lost their lives in the first blast, while 15 were killed in the second one and five persons who were injured were evacuated to the hospital for treatment,” Mr. Lawan said over the telephone.
Just yesterday, the Kaduna State relaxed a 24-hour curfew imposed on the state after the two blasts.
A spokesperson to Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State said the curfew was lifted since normalcy had returned to the state.
“Following the return of normalcy in Kaduna Metropolis, the State Security Council has relaxed the curfew imposed yesterday after the unfortunate incidences. The public is hereby advised to go about their normal activities and remain calm,” the spokesperson, Ahmed Maiyaki, said.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its shock and revulsion at Wednesday’s bomb attacks in Kaduna that targeted one of its leaders, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as well as prominent cleric Dahiru Bauchi and left hordes of innocent civilians dead or injured.
Similarly, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the bombings, describing them as dastardly and unfortunate.
In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party sent its condolences to the families of the victims and pray that God will give them the much-needed strength at times like this, while also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
It said the attempted assassination of Gen. Buhari has changed the narrative about the insurgent group and knocked the bottom off the sinister, irresponsible and partisan colouration given to the insurgency by the Federal Government.
APC said while no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the mere fact that it occurred at all is a lose-lose situation for the Jonathan administration.
“It is a real problem that is capable of consuming this country if immediate and urgent steps are not made now by the FG to move away from its politicization of the crisis, its decision to use it as a trump card for President Jonathan’s re-election and exploit it as a ticket to international relevance for the President. If anything untoward had happened to Gen. Buhari on Wednesday, the consequences are only better imagined than witnessed!
“If indeed the APC is behind Boko Haram and Gen. Buhari is a sympathizer of the evil group, as the FG wants the world to believe, could it be that the insurgents do not know their leaders or sympathizers, assuming they are behind the attack? If they are not responsible for the attack, doesn’t that support the theory in some circles that Boko Haram has become a franchise; hence there is the Boko Haram of Abubakar Shekau and the political Boko Haram?
“Whatever happens now, the satanic and repulsive theory of the PDP-led FG that the opposition APC is using Boko Haram to truncate the administration of Jonathan is up in flames. Therefore, it is time for them to change the narrative, see Boko Haram for what it is – an enemy of Nigeria – and rally the citizenry, irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious affiliation, behind the government’s efforts to tackle it decisively,” the party said.
It said that as a first step, President Jonathan must immediately stop the wasteful contract he signed with the US-based firm Levick to help demonize the APC as the sponsor of Boko Haram, and to demonize any Nigerian who is perceived to be an enemy of the government. It is this kind of demonization, using pseudo and out-of-job analysts that helped to set the stage for Wednesday’s failed assassination attempt against Gen. Buhari.
“Then the President must address Nigerians to tell them that Boko Haram is not just an enemy of his government, it is an enemy of the opposition, of Christians, of Muslims and of the different ethnic groups.
“Instead of dividing Nigerians along religious, ethnic and political lines, President Jonathan should borrow a leaf from his predecessors. Obasanjo never said the Niger Delta militancy was aimed at his government or his people, he tackled it headlong. Yar’Adua it was who finally ended the militancy, without saying it was aimed at his government or his people,” APC said.
The party reiterated its earlier stand that only a non-partisan approach will galvanize Nigerians against Boko Haram, which is rooted more in the years of bad governance that have resulted in mass unemployment, massive corruption, economic imbalances and made the youth to become hopeless, thus creating an army of willing tools for criminal activities
It repeated its offer to work with the Federal Government to battle Boko Haram and its call for a national stakeholders’ conference to help fashion out a comprehensive counter-insurgent blueprint for the nation.
APC said rather than just throwing money at what has now become a bottomless pit, rather than creating the avenue for some unpatriotic citizens to feed fat on the insurgency, the Federal Government should engage in new thinking.
However, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the party, while mourning the dead, “joins all well-meaning Nigerians in thanking God for saving the lives of General Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi whose convoys were affected in the incident.”
“We sincerely sympathise with General Buhari. Our hearts go out to him and all those affected in these wicked attacks,” the PDP said.
The party which stated that it was shocked by the ugly development reiterated its call for all Nigerians to unite against acts of terrorism irrespective of ethnic, political and religious affiliations adding, “It has become clear that anybody could be a target.”
It however cautioned opposition leaders to be careful with their utterances regarding the unfortunate incident, saying that Nigerians must unite for the nation to win the war against terror.
Nonetheless, a former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party and Nigeria’s Ambassador-at-Large, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described the recent bomb blasts in Kaduna State, which killed about 82 innocent Nigerians, as “most barbaric and unholy.”
Tukur, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said it was more painful that the perpetrators of such heinous crime against humanity could carry out such action during the month of Ramadan.
While condemning the bombings, which he described as dastardly acts, Tukur also wondered why people would take delight in the killing of their fellow human beings without mercy.
He said no right-thinking person would like to take the lives of innocent people away against the teaching and doctrines of Christianity and Islamic injunctions.
He called on those “behind these dangerous acts against humanity” to have a re-think and return to the path of religious and social rectitude.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the relevant agencies to investigate the Wednesday attempt on the lives of a former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and a prominent Islamic Scholar, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, in two car bomb attacks in Kaduna.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, said in an electronic mail yesterday that a comprehensive investigation into the bomb attacks was necessary to unravel those behind the incidents with a view to preventing similar attacks in the future.
Uyot described the attack which resulted in the death of 82 innocent Nigerians as “criminal and abhorrent.”
The NLC Acting Scribe said that the Boko Haram insurgency may have become a platform under which various atrocities were being committed in the country.
He said that the labour body was shocked that any Nigerian would want to kill the former Head of State and the Cleric who had worked hard to keep the country together.
The NLC also urged Nigerians to be more vigilant in view of the security situation in the country.
Meanwhile, at least four people lost their lives at the New Road Luxury Park, Sabon Gari, Kano, yesterday afternoon when a low-profile Improvised Explosive Device (IED), exploded.
When our correspondent visited the area, security personnel and Park Task Force were removing the bodies, including unspecified number of people who got injured.
According to eyewitness account, the bomb exploded at about 2:30 p.m. when a Luxury bus marked Ifeanyi Chukwu Motors was offloading passengers.
“The luxury bus just returned from Port Harcourt and was off-loading passengers when the blast occurred. No one can tell whether the bomb was planted inside the bus or the carts that were coming to take passenger’s loads.
Military officers walk past the remains of a car after an explosion on July 23, 2014 in Kaduna, north of Nigeria
“I may not be able to tell you the number of casualties, but I counted four dead bodies, while I saw many people with blood stains running for dear lives,” the eyewitness said.
The incident created fear and panic within the Sabon Gari community as many people were seen closing their shops.
The blast did minor damage to a number of luxury buses.
The incident paralysed activities in the park as passengers, business owners and workers at the park deserted the place.
Security operatives have cordoned off the area as at the time of filing this report.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba, who arrived the scene of the incident a few minutes after the blast, said it will be too hasty to say anything on the number of casualties.
It would be recalled that on Monday, 18 March, 2013, both workers and travellers at the New Road Luxury Motor Park were taken unawares when bombers struck at the park which generates millions of naira for business men and Kano State Government through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
On that day at about 4:30pm, when most of the first buses, like the ill-fated Lagos-bound Gobison-owned bus were fully loaded, bombers in a Volkswagen Golf car casually drove into the park.
Hell was let loose when there was a big bang from the Golf car which had already made its way close to the fully loaded Lagos-bound Gobison bus. This was followed by other blasts in four other buses that set the luxury park on fire.
Scores of people lost their lives. Two buses owned by Gobison Transport, two buses marked Ezenwata Transport Limited and one other owned by Chimezie Transport Limited were burnt.
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari (right) listening to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin during a courtesy visit to the police boss by Semenitari and Management of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation in Port Harcourt, yesterday
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.