Abuja mall blast kills 21

The police confirmed the death toll adding that 17 others were injured and 16 vehicles were destroyed.The bombers hit Emab Plaza, beside the popular Banex Plaza, on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II District of Abuja at about 3.50pm.The area is popular with Abuja residents because it holds the largest concentration of shops dealing in […]

The police confirmed the death toll adding that 17 others were injured and 16 vehicles were destroyed.
The bombers hit Emab Plaza, beside the popular Banex Plaza, on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II District of Abuja at about 3.50pm.
The area is popular with Abuja residents because it holds the largest concentration of shops dealing in electronics, GSM phones and other house hold products.
Daily Trust gathered that the attack

was carried out by terrorists who came on a motorcycle and planted the bomb at the north entrance of the plaza.
The device was said to have gone off shortly after they speeded off on the bike.
Our correspondent learnt that two suspects escaping the scene were confronted by soldiers from the Brigade of Guards.
The soldiers shot and killed one of the suspects while another sustained injuries and has been taken to hospital.
An officer of the Brigade of Guards told journalists on condition of anonymity that the soldiers also discovered a second explosive device on the suspects arrested.
Police spokesman (ACP) Frank Mba, who spoke to journalists at the scene of the bombing, alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and other high ranking security officials, confirmed that 21 people were killed in the blast and 17 people were injured.
According to Mba, “We just want to confirm the fact that there was an explosion here this afternoon, the unfortunate incident happened at about 3.50 pm.
“As soon as the incident happened security agencies moved  in and cordoned off the crime scene and immediately initiated action targeted at saving lives and protecting the existing property.
“The casualty figure for now is 21 persons dead and 17 injured, if there is any change letter on we will inform you. There are also 17 vehicles burnt in the incident,” he said.
He also added that, “an arrest has been made and security agencies will be following up with that arrest, the building is still an active crime scene and has been cordoned off, investigations have already commenced, the police bomb disposal squad, in conjunction with other security agencies, are already carrying out investigation.
“We have equally taken out measures to secure the critical infrastructure here, the shops the building and all the goods that are here, and we are assuring the traders and members of the public and we will ensure that there is no looting of the shops here.”
Also speaking to Journalist at the scene,  FCT Minister Bala Mohammed said, “We wish to express from the angle of the FCT administration our deepest commiseration and condolences with the families and indeed all Nigerians who are affected by this very gruesome incidence.
“If it had not been for very frantic measures been done by the Police, the SSS and the military the bombe,r maybe, would have been inside the market area “Unfortunately the softest targets were reached by the information we are getting, some traders, some hawkers, people that were selling outside the market outside the shopping malls are affected.”

Witness accounts
Witnesses who spoke to journalists at the scene of the event gave their accounts of what happened, when the terror attack happened yesterday evening. A witness, who appeared devastated and gave his name as simply Group Captain B. P. Bilaal (retired), seemed to be the only person who saw the perpetrators.
In his brief to security officials overheard by our reporter, retired Group Captain Bilaal said he parked just inside the entrance when the explosion happened killing several people around him.
He said, “I parked behind this vehicle, I saw him (bomber) on a motor cycle he dropped something on the road before the explosion happened.”
Group Captain Bilaal appeared confident he witnessed the act.
Salihu Mohammed Baba, a fashion designer whose shop is opposite Emab plaza said, he was in his shop, ‘Kebbi International,” when he heard the blast, which brought down the ceiling in his shop.
“I only heard an explosion that deafened my ears, everything was scattered so I rushed outside, I did not even know where I was going, when I rushed outside I saw cars burning, people were just burnt into ashes here, I saw like 30 people with my eyes burnt, I had to go back.
“I was one of the first people to reach the scene and when I got there, cars were burning and people were dying and screaming, and there was no way I could rescue them,” he added.
Shaibu Baba who was at the plaza to photocopy documents said he lost his driver in the blast. “I have been hearing about bomb blast but today I witnessed it, I was supposed to be a victim, its only God that saved me, but my driver is part of the victims here, my driver is dead, we came into the complex to photo copy only two pages at ten naira.
“I did not see it happen but I was in the complex when the ground was shaking, when I came out I saw a lot of fire, I asked what happened somebody told me it was bomb blast, I went to my car but saw that my driver was dead,” he lamented.
He noted that there were a lot of casualties, “if you were here you would have seen a lot of human parts scattered all over the place, in fact some of the people were gathering human parts in leather bags.
“Before you know the security men were here, but the funny thing is that look at the security here, by the time you give everybody two hours, they will forget the people that died here, they will go back to their normal politics.”