Abuja, the nation’s capital was thrown into mourning yesterday, following the death of 71 persons in a bomb blast that took place at the Nyanya bus park in a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
For a while, it appeared like Abuja had been turned to a city of blood
and grief, no thanks to the activities of the mindless insurgents.
The bomb blast, which occurred between 6.30 and 6.45 am, left 124
others injured and dismembered as hospitals, emergency services and
security personnel struggled to handle the situation.
In some instances, family members were unable to recognise their loved ones who were burnt beyond recognition.
A run down of the figures showed that 15 burnt bodies were deposited at
the National Hospital, Abuja; 27 were deposited at Asokoro Hospital
mortuary; while 11 were taken to Maitama General Hospital mortuary.
According to official figures released by the National Hospital at the
time of going to press, 47 victims of the blast were admitted at various
hospitals. Of the 47 injured persons, 32 of them were men, while 15
were women.
Some of the patients with severe burns and fractures were taken to the
intensive care units, while others were still being looked after at the
emergency units as at the time of filing this report.
Seven of the patients at the National Hospital were later taken to the
Federal Staff Clinic, Jabi, while one was taken to Garki Hospital for
special attention.
At the Asokoro Hospital, though officials did not want to comment, scores of dead bodies littered the floor of the mortuary, including the entrance of the hospital emergency unit.
In Maitama General Hospital, the same scenario was witnessed, as the
mortuary was filled to capacity. Injured patients from the bomb blast
were first attended to outside the hospital in the open space, as the
hospital was said to be filled to capacity.
When THISDAY visited Maitama Hospital, an official at the emergency
unit who did not want his name in print, said the hospital had 28
victims from the blast who had survived but were injured.
He also disclosed that 11 people, who were burnt to death, and some others dismembered, were all deposited at the morgue.
Another source told THISDAY that one of the patients, a female, with
serious injuries, died on the way to the theatre, bringing the number of
the dead persons to 15.
Expectedly, the hospitals were arenas of confusion yesterday, as the
personnel struggled to attend to the living and the dead, while families
of victims struggled to confirm the location and status of their loved
ones.
For the family of Anike Livinus as at press time, they were still in
search of their wife and mother, Felicia Anike, popularly called Mama
Arinze.
The mother of three and a businesswoman, according to her family
members, who trooped to the National Hospital on the lookout for her,
said she had left home to Kado Market, where she buys goods and takes
them to Ado Market in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State for sale.
For Mrs. Ngozi Iloha, she was lucky to have found her husband,
Valentine, alive, though his body was filled with bruises, blisters and
gaping wounds.
Though she was able to find her husband, hospital officials did not allow her to speak with him.
At the Maitama General Hospital, Jamilu Umar, brother of a dead victim,
Shamsudeen Umar, told THISDAY that he recognised his dead brother from
the belt he gave him earlier in the morning.
Umar, speaking in Hausa language, said: “I was able to recognise him
from the belt I gave him in the morning before he left. His head had
gone off when I saw his body.”
Umar told journalists that killed alongside Shamsudeen in the bomb explosion, was Kurata, Shamsudeen’s friend.
Speaking at the National Hospital, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu, who arrived at noon, told journalists that efforts were being
made to provide succousr to the victims.
He said: “We have been trying to coordinate things since morning; at
least look at how we are managing every victim, whether dead or alive,
whether injured or not injured, and the relatives themselves.”
Chukwu further stated that it was too early to be able to give a
definite figure, adding: “We are still collating figures and we want to
avoid double counting.
Definitely before the end of the day, we will be able to give you real figures in terms of how many people are dead, how many people are injured and how many people have been treated and discharged in the various hospitals within the FCT, as well as how many people are still on admission.
“For now, what we can only tell you is that we have quite a large
number of deaths and victims who are in various hospitals now.”
Also elaborating on the care being offered by the hospitals, the
minister said: “They are being attended to very well. Many are in the
theatre, and would be admitted in the intensive care unit thereafter.
Since morning, we have been able to get many agencies to begin to work.
“Some of you may have noticed that the National Blood Transfusion
Service has been visiting various hospitals, working with the hospital
authorities there. Blood should not be an issue.
“They have placed announcements in some of the radio stations, asking
volunteers to come and donate and people are actually coming here to
donate blood. We believe that blood should not be an issue.
“If any patient requires blood, the hospital authorities will ensure
that such a patient receives blood transfusion. We have also been told
of other agencies, like the International Committee of the Red Cross
that are bringing supplies to assist in whatever way.”
He also pointed out that attempts were being made to work with the families to identify victims whether alive or dead.
“There would be need to provide psychological support to families and friends because it is not an easy thing,” he added.
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