PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria: Abuja bomb blast, abduction of female students reported in Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Monday's bomb blast at a popular lorry park in the outskirts of Abuja and the abduction, by suspected Boko Haram elements, of more than 100 female students in a post-primary school a few hours later, dominated the media in Nigeria this week.
Nigerians woke up Monday morning to be confronted with the story that many people, waiting to board buses on their way to work, had been killed when an explosion went off at the Nyanya Motor Park, on the outskirts of the Nigerian Federal capital city.
Nyanya is a satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Reports said badly-mutilated bodies, blood-spattered buses and total confusion highlighted the scene of of the explosion. As smoke plumes rose high into the sky, ambulances ferried the dead and the injured to nearby hospitals.
A few hours later, no fewer than 100 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in the north eastern Borno State, were abducted by members of the outlawed militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
The incident took place less than 15 hours after the bombing incident.
The DAILY INDEPENDENT headlined its story "Day of terror in Abuja", reporting on Wednesday that 72 people were confirmed dead when the dust cleared in the confusion created by an early morning bomb explosion that rocked Nyanya major bus park in Abuja on Monday.
The bomb reportedly went off at about 6.30 a.m. (0530 GMT) when workers were already at the park.
Police spokesman Frank Mba, confirmed the casualty figure of 72 to journalists on behalf of other security agencies after President Goodluck Jonathan visited the scene of the blast.
Mba said 124 others that sustained injuries from the disaster were receiving treatment in different hospitals in the FCT.
He added that 16 luxury buses were razed while 24 others were destroyed in the blast.
Eyewitnesses said some of the buses at the garage had already been boarded by passengers when the explosion occurred.
President Jonathan, who arrived the scene at 12.20 p.m. (1130 GMT) together with Senate President, David Mark, described the incident as an unnecessary distraction, saying his government would intensify efforts to end the lingering insurgencies in the country.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's main opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday blasted President Jonathan for taking a trip to the northern state of Kano on a political campaign a day after the blast.
APC said: ''President Goodluck Jonathan is exhibiting the traits of an insensitive and utterly hardhearted leader by returning to his illegal campaign trail, barely 24 hours after 75 of his compatriots died in a bomb blast in Abuja, and as news broke that 200 school girls have been abducted by Boko Haram in Borno.''
The APC wondered why the President could not have deferred his trip to Kano, since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to lift the ban on political campaigns ahead of the 2015 general elections.
''Without mincing words, President Jonathan erred badly by not showing enough sympathy for the victims of Monday's blast. More people died in the blast than from Kenya's mall shooting last September, yet President Uhuru Kenyatta declared three days of national mourning during which flags at public buildings flew at half mast and the people of Kenya prayed for the dead and the injured,'' APC said.
''A President who said his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone is now dancing gleefully on the graves of over 70 of his compatriots. What is so important about the illegal campaign stop in Kano on Tuesday that could not have waited for the smoke to clear from the scene of the deadly blast on Monday? Who will President Jonathan rule over when his countrymen and women are being daily mowed down under his watch?'' the opposition party said.
In its stories during the week, the GUARDIAN headlines were "Global outrage trails Abuja park bombing"; "UN, U.S. condemn Abuja park bombing"; "UK female terrorist linked to Abuja motor park blast" and "Bombing, Strong Indication Nigeria Is Drifting Towards Disintegration, Says Cleric."
According to the GUARDIAN, the United Nations Security Council has condemned the Monday bomb explosion in a bus station in Nigeria that killed 72 persons and injured 124 others.
Also, the United States vehemently condemned the attack while calling for a full investigation into the bombing. It also reaffirmed its support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
The 15-member UN Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation.
It said in a press statement on Tuesday in New York that there was the need to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, had earlier expressed shock and sadness about the attack, strongly condemning all indiscriminate killings and acts of violent extremism.
The US in November designated Nigeria's radical Islamist Boko Haram network and an offshoot known as Ansaru as terror groups, bowing to months of pressure to act.
The US State Department has also offered a US$7 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
The GUARDIAN also reported that British international terrorist, Samantha Lewthwaite, otherwise known as ‘White Widow,’ had been linked to Monday’s bomb blast in Nyanya.
“Intelligence suggests that Lewthwaite is known to many influential figures within the al-Shabaab network."
The 30-year-old is believed to be in Nigeria, Kenya or Somalia “where Islamist terror networks are closely linked, making it far easier for her to evade detection than in Europe”.
Significantly, the world’s most wanted woman was reportedly caught at a checkpoint in Nigeria just six months ago, but managed to bribe her way to freedom, a K senior security source said.
It is believed that the White Widow commands enormous loyalty and power as a white convert female jihadist, “having proved her worth in previous attacks”.
She is officially being hunted by 190 countries and “is one of the most wanted international fugitives in the world”.
Under the headline "Bombing, Strong Indication Nigeria Is Drifting Towards Disintegration, Says Cleric", the GUARDIAN quoted an Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Adekunle, as saying on Friday that Monday’s bombing was “barbaric.”
The cleric who spoke at a press briefing in Abeokuta, south west Ogun State, insisted that the latest bombing was a strong indication that the country was drifting for a break.
He added: “This is an indication that the marriage of inconvenience, called Nigeria, should be dissolved and every tribe and tongue to go their independence ways for peace and development. This has shown the level of insanity among some of us in this country.”
The online NIGERIAN MONITOR, under the headline "Nigerians lambast Jonathan for singing, dancing at campaign rally while nation mourns bomb blast victims", reported that Nigerians had reacted with outrage over President Jonathan’s visit to Kano to welcome former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, a day after the bomb blast.
"Insensitive", "irresponsible", "terrible", and "wicked" are some of the words that have been used to describe the president’s political visit to Kano.
“It is plain insensitive, really. It is evident that the leadership of this country does not take our lives seriously at all,” said activist lawyer, Bamidele Aturu.
“He wouldn’t have lost anything if he had postponed the campaign for another one or two months and let the people who are bereaved come to terms with the gruesome reality,” he added.
Mr. Aturu said the President’s action showed the huge disconnect between Nigerians and their political leaders. He said the president’s action, if done in other countries, could have cost him his job.
"Boko Haram kidnaps 100 girls in attack on hostel," was the headline of the NATION which reported that Nigerians, still struggling to free themselves from the horrific hangover of Monday’s suicide bombing, on Tuesday got another piece of bad news – the abduction of 100 girls at the Girls Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Eyewitnesses recalled that the attack was like a scene from an action movie. The gunmen stormed the town in the night, shooting and burning. There was commotion. They then invaded the school where they killed a soldier and a policeman who were on guard.
The girls were preparing for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) when they were forcibly taken away by the gunmen around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), according to the NATION.
And the PUNCH treated the story under a similar headline "Boko Haram abducts 100 schoolgirls in Borno".
-0- PANA VAO/MA 19April2014
Nigerians woke up Monday morning to be confronted with the story that many people, waiting to board buses on their way to work, had been killed when an explosion went off at the Nyanya Motor Park, on the outskirts of the Nigerian Federal capital city.
Nyanya is a satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Reports said badly-mutilated bodies, blood-spattered buses and total confusion highlighted the scene of of the explosion. As smoke plumes rose high into the sky, ambulances ferried the dead and the injured to nearby hospitals.
A few hours later, no fewer than 100 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in the north eastern Borno State, were abducted by members of the outlawed militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
The incident took place less than 15 hours after the bombing incident.
The DAILY INDEPENDENT headlined its story "Day of terror in Abuja", reporting on Wednesday that 72 people were confirmed dead when the dust cleared in the confusion created by an early morning bomb explosion that rocked Nyanya major bus park in Abuja on Monday.
The bomb reportedly went off at about 6.30 a.m. (0530 GMT) when workers were already at the park.
Police spokesman Frank Mba, confirmed the casualty figure of 72 to journalists on behalf of other security agencies after President Goodluck Jonathan visited the scene of the blast.
Mba said 124 others that sustained injuries from the disaster were receiving treatment in different hospitals in the FCT.
He added that 16 luxury buses were razed while 24 others were destroyed in the blast.
Eyewitnesses said some of the buses at the garage had already been boarded by passengers when the explosion occurred.
President Jonathan, who arrived the scene at 12.20 p.m. (1130 GMT) together with Senate President, David Mark, described the incident as an unnecessary distraction, saying his government would intensify efforts to end the lingering insurgencies in the country.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's main opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday blasted President Jonathan for taking a trip to the northern state of Kano on a political campaign a day after the blast.
APC said: ''President Goodluck Jonathan is exhibiting the traits of an insensitive and utterly hardhearted leader by returning to his illegal campaign trail, barely 24 hours after 75 of his compatriots died in a bomb blast in Abuja, and as news broke that 200 school girls have been abducted by Boko Haram in Borno.''
The APC wondered why the President could not have deferred his trip to Kano, since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to lift the ban on political campaigns ahead of the 2015 general elections.
''Without mincing words, President Jonathan erred badly by not showing enough sympathy for the victims of Monday's blast. More people died in the blast than from Kenya's mall shooting last September, yet President Uhuru Kenyatta declared three days of national mourning during which flags at public buildings flew at half mast and the people of Kenya prayed for the dead and the injured,'' APC said.
''A President who said his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone is now dancing gleefully on the graves of over 70 of his compatriots. What is so important about the illegal campaign stop in Kano on Tuesday that could not have waited for the smoke to clear from the scene of the deadly blast on Monday? Who will President Jonathan rule over when his countrymen and women are being daily mowed down under his watch?'' the opposition party said.
In its stories during the week, the GUARDIAN headlines were "Global outrage trails Abuja park bombing"; "UN, U.S. condemn Abuja park bombing"; "UK female terrorist linked to Abuja motor park blast" and "Bombing, Strong Indication Nigeria Is Drifting Towards Disintegration, Says Cleric."
According to the GUARDIAN, the United Nations Security Council has condemned the Monday bomb explosion in a bus station in Nigeria that killed 72 persons and injured 124 others.
Also, the United States vehemently condemned the attack while calling for a full investigation into the bombing. It also reaffirmed its support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
The 15-member UN Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation.
It said in a press statement on Tuesday in New York that there was the need to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, had earlier expressed shock and sadness about the attack, strongly condemning all indiscriminate killings and acts of violent extremism.
The US in November designated Nigeria's radical Islamist Boko Haram network and an offshoot known as Ansaru as terror groups, bowing to months of pressure to act.
The US State Department has also offered a US$7 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
The GUARDIAN also reported that British international terrorist, Samantha Lewthwaite, otherwise known as ‘White Widow,’ had been linked to Monday’s bomb blast in Nyanya.
“Intelligence suggests that Lewthwaite is known to many influential figures within the al-Shabaab network."
The 30-year-old is believed to be in Nigeria, Kenya or Somalia “where Islamist terror networks are closely linked, making it far easier for her to evade detection than in Europe”.
Significantly, the world’s most wanted woman was reportedly caught at a checkpoint in Nigeria just six months ago, but managed to bribe her way to freedom, a K senior security source said.
It is believed that the White Widow commands enormous loyalty and power as a white convert female jihadist, “having proved her worth in previous attacks”.
She is officially being hunted by 190 countries and “is one of the most wanted international fugitives in the world”.
Under the headline "Bombing, Strong Indication Nigeria Is Drifting Towards Disintegration, Says Cleric", the GUARDIAN quoted an Anglican Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Adekunle, as saying on Friday that Monday’s bombing was “barbaric.”
The cleric who spoke at a press briefing in Abeokuta, south west Ogun State, insisted that the latest bombing was a strong indication that the country was drifting for a break.
He added: “This is an indication that the marriage of inconvenience, called Nigeria, should be dissolved and every tribe and tongue to go their independence ways for peace and development. This has shown the level of insanity among some of us in this country.”
The online NIGERIAN MONITOR, under the headline "Nigerians lambast Jonathan for singing, dancing at campaign rally while nation mourns bomb blast victims", reported that Nigerians had reacted with outrage over President Jonathan’s visit to Kano to welcome former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, a day after the bomb blast.
"Insensitive", "irresponsible", "terrible", and "wicked" are some of the words that have been used to describe the president’s political visit to Kano.
“It is plain insensitive, really. It is evident that the leadership of this country does not take our lives seriously at all,” said activist lawyer, Bamidele Aturu.
“He wouldn’t have lost anything if he had postponed the campaign for another one or two months and let the people who are bereaved come to terms with the gruesome reality,” he added.
Mr. Aturu said the President’s action showed the huge disconnect between Nigerians and their political leaders. He said the president’s action, if done in other countries, could have cost him his job.
"Boko Haram kidnaps 100 girls in attack on hostel," was the headline of the NATION which reported that Nigerians, still struggling to free themselves from the horrific hangover of Monday’s suicide bombing, on Tuesday got another piece of bad news – the abduction of 100 girls at the Girls Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Eyewitnesses recalled that the attack was like a scene from an action movie. The gunmen stormed the town in the night, shooting and burning. There was commotion. They then invaded the school where they killed a soldier and a policeman who were on guard.
The girls were preparing for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) when they were forcibly taken away by the gunmen around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), according to the NATION.
And the PUNCH treated the story under a similar headline "Boko Haram abducts 100 schoolgirls in Borno".
-0- PANA VAO/MA 19April2014
