Death tolls from the bombing that rocked two satellite towns in Abuja has risen to 20.
The Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Mr Opada Balami, said that the fatality figures in Kuje has risen to 15, while that of Nyanya now stands at five.
According to him, out of the 41 injured, only 24 are currently receiving treatment at the various government hospitals in Abuja as others with minor injuries have been discharged.
“The total number of persons that died are 20 and distributed as follows; Kuje, we have 15 persons who died, at the Nyanya site we have five persons who also died.
“The total number of persons that were injured and taken to hospital by the first responders are as follows; Kuje 20, Nyanya 21.
“Number of cases currently in the hospital; there are no cases in the Nyanya and Kuje General Hospital but we have seven patients in Asokoro Hospital. We also have 13 patients in National Hospital and four patients in Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital,” he said.
No group has claimed responsibility, but the attack is similar to others carried out by Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamist extremist group. Boko Haram’s fighters have been carrying out attacks mostly in the northeast but have occasionally attacked other towns.
Violence from Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency has killed nearly 20,000 people and displaced 1.4 million from their homes. At least 1,000 people have been killed since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May this year with the promise of wiping out the insurgents.
Four suicide bombers killed at least 10 people on Thursday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the army said. No group claimed responsibility but Nigerian security forces blamed Boko Haram, which is based in the area.
At least 39 others were wounded in the attack, in the Sareji neighborhood of Maiduguri, said a military spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman.
The Nigerian military on Thursday also accused Boko Haram of poisoning water sources in northeastern Nigeria. Colonel Usman said that some cattle had died after drinking the poisoned water.
In a separate episode, residents say five people were killed Thursday by gunmen suspected of being Boko Haram militants in Kirchinga, a village in Adamawa State, which borders the Sambisa forest, a Boko Haram hide-out.
Ahmad Musa, who fled the attack on his village, said militants shot indiscriminately, forcing residents to hide in nearby bushes to escape the onslaught.
Mr. Buhari said Thursday that his leadership had taken the battle to the insurgents and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities.
“That they are resorting to shameless attacks on soft targets,” he said, “is indicative of their cowardice and desperation.”
Channels/ NYT
