Scene of a bomb blast

First lady consoles victims of Yola bomb blast

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and Daji Sani in Yola in with agency report

Five days after a bomb ripped off the Maiduguri abattoir where about 20 persons were reportedly killed, there was another explosion in the same area at the weekend, killing 10 persons.
A member of the youth vigilante in the town, Abba Idi, told THISDAY in Maiduguri yesterday that the explosion escaped public notice because it was during a thunderstorm that followed the a heavy downpour in the city at the weekend.
He said the explosion, which happened at about 3:35 p.m. was at the usually crowded cattle market in Maiduguri.
The cattle market, popularly known as Kasuwan-Shanu, is located adjacent to the abattoir that was attacked by a suicide bomber who killed himself and about 20 last Tuesday.

Idi said most of the people killed were traders who daily came to the market to eke out a living.
He said: “The blast occurred at the time the rain was falling; our guys in the area informed us that they saw people fleeing from the market area.”
A soldier, who pleaded anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said: “There was a bomb attack; it is just that people were really unaware of it due to the rainstorm.
Initially, we too thought it was the sound of the thunderstorm.”
He added:  “One of my colleagues attached to the area later called to inform us that there was a bomb in Kasuwan-Shanu; but I could not get him to give details.”
Kasuwan-Shanu is one of the largest cattle and sheep markets in the North-east of Nigeria, it also serves as a major supplier of animals slaughtered in the Maiduguri abattoir that was attack last week.
The Kasuwan-Shanu bomb blast would be the fifth of such attacks since the first that rocked Maiduguri on May 30 this year.
Also, the state police command on Sunday confirmed the killing of two persons after a suspected female suicide bomber detonated an explosive along Baga/Monguno.
Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Opadokun, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, said that four persons were also injured.
“A female suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) strapped on her body along Baga/Monguno highway, killing herself and two others on Saturday.
“Four persons sustained injuries during the attack,’’ he said.
He also confirmed an IED explosion near a military check point in Konduga Local Government Area, in which two persons were injured.
“It is true that we had a suspected IED explosion at Tungushe village in Konduga Local Government Area, near a military check point.
“Two persons were injured and they are now being treated at the hospital,’’ he said.
Opadokun advised residents to be vigilant and report strange objects to the nearest security check point for action.
However, the wife of president, Hajiya Aishatu Buhari, has appealed to spirited Nigerians, non-governmental organisations and institutions to come to the aid of the victims of last Thursday’s bomb blast in Yola, Adamawa State.
The first lady who disclosed this shortly after visiting and consoling with victims of the bomb blast over the weekend, who were receiving treatment at the specialists hospital and Federal Medical Centre in Yola.
Mrs. Buhari, who also presented assistance to the victims of the blast added that she was happy to see the victims recuperating very fast.
She condemned the incident and wished them speedy recovery and God’s mercy on the soul of those who lost their lives.
Receiving the representative of the first lady the Chief Medical Director of Yola Specialist Hospital, Dr. Bala Saidu and the Head of Clinical Services of the Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Bemi Kala, thanked the first lady for the concern shown and urged for more support from individuals and organisations for the victims and hospitals.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mallam Abdulkadir Mohammed, also thanked the first lady and all those that have supported them.
He called on the government of Mohammadu Buhari to take drastic  measures to wipe out insurgents that are living within the communities and are causing havoc among the people.
Mohammed urged the government to collaborate with the public to divulge vital information of the whereabout of the insurgents living among the people.