A suicide bomb went off in Karshi Taxi Park, Nyanya, Abuja yesterday at around 2020 hrs when May Day celebrations were coming to a close and many motorists headed home after a day of revelry.
Death tolls are being reported to be north of 32, although several sources say the death count is less, whilst some eyewitnesses claim more were killed.
The explosion took place 1.2 kilometres away from a military checkpoint.
A statement released yesterday by the National Emergency Management Agency said, “While security agencies have condoned off the area of the explosion this evening in Nyanya, Abuja, response agencies have moved injured victims to hospitals and at least 10 lifeless bodies have been deposited in the mortuary while 13 unconscious victims are receiving medical attention in different hospitals in Abuja. Other injured victims too are being attended to.
“The public are urged to cooperate with security agencies and avoid rushing to the scene to guard against hampering the efforts of the various agencies working together to ensure public safety,” the statement said.
A source said: “A car, which we suspected to be a Volkswagen Golf was parked and three people quickly rushed out of it. They had barely moved away when the explosion shattered everywhere.
“The ensuing commotion could not allow residents of the area to trail those who brought the car.
Another source said: “I was walking on top of the bridge when the bomb exploded. It threw me off balance, but I managed to run to safety. The impact of the explosion shattered the windscreen of many vehicles on the bridge.
“When I regained consciousness and I looked under the bridge, many vehicles were already in flames.
“Being the main entry point to Abuja, traffic had already built up in the area.”