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. Families expressed grief and wept uncontrollably as they went from one hospital to the other in search of their loved ones who usually used the Nyanya bus park. In some instances, family members were unable to recognise their loved ones who were burnt beyond recognition. 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. 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. Another family was also in search of Tochukwu who left the house in the morning for work. Speaking at the National Hospital, Minister of Health, Professor 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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