Touching Stories From Survivors Of Abuja Bomb Blast

By: Unknown on 00:43

 

Touching stories from emab plaza bomb blast! May God Help us oo .. Some people are still looking for their loved ones.

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.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.”

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. 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.”

I was covered with broken glasses -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.

Daniel Itodo said he was still searching for his cousin, 24-year-old Bassey Bassey, who hails from Cross River State. Bassey, who was said to be the first child of his parents was working with a pharmaceutical shop at the plaza.

“I was at home when I heard about the bomb blast at Wuse II, and I remembered that my cousin, Bassey  Bassey was at the shopping plaza. I rushed to the pharmacy where  he was working at Emab plaza, near Banex. I was told that about three minutes before the bomb blast, my cousin left with a customer that came to the pharmacy to  buy some drugs. Since then his phone has been switched off and he is nowhere to be found. I have gone to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and National Hospital, where I saw health officials attending to some injured people brought to them, and I learnt four persons were in the intensive care unit.  But I was not allowed to have access to them. I went to Garki Hospital and I could not see him there.”

“I went to Maitama General Hospital where I  saw up to 10 dead bodies. Four could not be identified because the bodies were charred. One of the bodies was without a head, with intestines packed on one side.

“The parents are yet to be informed because we have not seen him dead or alive. We are still searching for him. I will meet with the manager of the pharmacy to know whether the customer was alive or both of them died and for the management of the pharmacy to tell us the exact story about our brother’s whereabouts.

“I want the government to step up security, because it is very painful as innocent Nigerians are daily becoming the objects of attacks. The security agencies should improve on their strategies because these terrorists are spreading fast across the country.

 

My close shave with death

“My name is Ikechuku Iba, aka Ogbologbo. I am a taxi driver in Abuja,  my park is at Emab plaza and everybody in the plaza knows that I always stayed at the exact spot where the bomb went off yesterday. That was where I usually parked my car, waiting for passengers. But thank God, on Wednesday, 30 minutes before the bomb went off  my sister phoned me to come. I was reluctant at first because it was the peak of activities but I later decided to go. Just 30 minutes after I left the Plaza, the bomb went off.  Thank God I wasn’t around and thank God  I went to Asokoro to see my sister. A lot of people were calling me to ask whether I was involved because they all know I was always there.

There was a particular boy I saw being taken to the hospital and I knew the mother as a banana seller, I used to buy banana and groundnut from her but she was caught up in the blast and she died. I knew so many others who died. When I went to Maitama hospital yesterday to check people, I recognised about four people but some people were badly burnt”.

Ademola

As he(bomber) bent his head towards his Sienna, I told my friend that we should get away from there. Within a few seconds, there was an explosion …. I saw many corpses on the ground. Heads, hands and legs littered   everywhere–

– Tyokasi

 On that fateful day, I just crossed over to buy corn …. 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

–Olatunji

 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

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.

“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.

“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.

I’m still searching for my husband –Uche Ojeh

Mrs Ojeh, who is Micheal’s mother ,   said she was still searching for her husband, Rufus.

She said, “My husband   left home around 5 am on Thursday.   My son, Michael   helps someone to sell newspapers by the plaza.

“I have seen my son but I have not seen my husband. My son told me he saw his father as he went to pick a passenger. He gave Michael some money and said after dropping off the passenger, he would   go and watch the Nigeria- Argentina World Cup   match   at home.

“He wanted Michael to follow him but the boy said no. Micheal said a man who came to buy newspaper was using delay tactics by asking him questions and immediately he (bomber) left, the bomb exploded. The blood of the bomber was all over my son’s   body. As I talk to you now, I don’t know where my husband is. We are still searching for him.