Another devastating bomb attack was recorded in the Wuse District of Abuja on Wednesday afternoon killing at least 19 persons while 52 others were taken to various hospitals for treatment. The explosion went off at the gate of EMAB Plaza, a popular business complex housing shops and offices.
Security sources and response agencies said no fewer than 41 vehicles were also destroyed in the attack
The sources said both the dead and injured victims were taken to National Hospital, Maitama General Hospital, Wuse General Hospital, Federal Staff Hospital and Turkish Hospital all in Abuja.
All the security agencies have been deployed to the area and have cordoned off the scene while mop up activities were being carried out at the time of filing this report.
Although no person or group has claimed responsibility for the attack which happened but a militant group, the Boko Haram, is suspected to be behind it.
The plaza is also located opposite Usman bin Affan Mosque at the Wuse 2 where some worshippers were also affected.
This latest blast brings to three the number of bomb blasts that has hit Abuja area since April this year when two bombs exploded in Nyanya area within a space of three months.
Also yesterday another deadly explosion occurred at Kasuwan Kuturu market in Mubi area of Adamawa State, killing some 15 persons including Policemen and injuring many.
This was after Sanga Local Government Council (LGA) of Kaduna State on Wednesday announced a 24-hour curfew in the area.
A source said the explosion happened at about 10.00am Wednesday, when the activities in the market were at its peak.
Adamawa State is currently facing both security and political upheaval. Apart from the siege by members of Boko Haram group, the House of Assembly members have already served the State Governor, Murtala Nyako, an impeachment notice.
The Adamawa State Commissioner of Police (CP), John Abakasanga, has confirmed the incident. He added however that the explosion was targeted at a police patrol team.
Though the State Police boss had said that there was no casualty from the blast, another top senior operative attached to the military Joint Task Force (JTF) confirmed to our Correspondent that he could count some 15 lifeless bodies scattered on the ground of the market.
“I personally counted about 15 dead bodies on the ground. My men even assisted the local ambulance people to put the dead bodies in a pick-up van they brought for them to be taken to the hospital mortuary.”
Adamawa is one of the three states under emergency rule due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents. The dreaded Islamic sect, since the beginning of this year, has been able to carry out successful and bloody strikes in Adamawa, especially in Mubi.
Mubi Local Government is predominantly a Christian populated area of Adamawa State.
This is the second blast in Adamawa State this month alone. On June 4th, the State Police Command had confirmed 14 people dead and 12 others injured in a bomb explosion which rocked the same Mubi town on Sunday evening.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Usman Abubakar, also confirmed the incident in a telephone interview from Yola.
Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information, who confirmed the Wednesday blast in a chat from Abuja, had revealed then that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the Sunday blast.
He, however, said that one of them later died in the hospital following an injury he sustained during the attack. A resident of the town, who simply identified himself as Solomon, said that the explosion occurred in Kabang area of the town in Mubi South Local Government Area.
“The explosion occurred at about 6 p.m. in Kabang area where there is concentration of beer palour operators. Security personnel are taking affected people to hospital. I can’t say whether there is death or not”, Solomon said.
