.......13 die as bomb blasts rock PDP rally in Niger

Guardian

4 March 2011

.......13 die as bomb blasts rock PDP rally in Niger

IT was a scene of confusion and horror yesterday. Thousands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, thronged the venue of the zonal rally of the party in Niger State. One after the other, the dignitaries trooped in and took their seats at the stand for the PDP leaders.

With the stage set, the National Anthem was being played as the PDP leaders prepared for their speeches, presentation of special activities and the party’s flags to its candidates from the zone.

Half way into the rendition of the National Anthem, the unexpected happened: There was a deafening explosion and a stampede. As the scene was being deserted, another blast occurred a few minutes later.

It all started without an inkling. A racing white 18-seater bus appeared, drove menacingly close to the venue at Government Secondary School, Suleja. An object was hurled into the crowd by one of the occupants of the bus, which sped away immediately. The object suspected to be a bomb exploded and there were groaning and rushing into different directions as members ran for safety. After normalcy returned, 10 lifeless bodies were found on the ground with some of them burnt beyond recognition.  

Another set of 18 people were in unconscious state while 20 others were seriously injured. As they were rushed to hospitals in Suleja, Minna, the state capital and other neighbouring towns, three of the victims were said to have died. 

Men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), believed to be worst hit in the twin blasts, were taken to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

The identity of those who died in the blasts could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.

Sources said the first bomb explosion, said to be hand-made, was thrown by an unidentified person from the moving bus when the National Anthem was being rendered.  Shortly another bomb went off near where the governor’s cars were parked but Governor Babangida Aliyu had been reportedly whisked out of the venue.