ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari paid a consolatory visit to survivors of Friday night’s bomb attacks on Nyanya and Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory.
This is even as roadblocks manned by armed soldiers have resurfaced at strategic parts of the FCT.
Police operatives wearing EOD vests (Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit) were sighted around the 3-Arm Zone, which hosts the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and the Federal Secretariat, at alert.
The massive deployment of policemen followed an order by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, that Police Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units be immediately deployed on the scenes.
Also, military roadblocks, which were hitherto dismantled by President Muhammadu Buhari have been reinstated at Nyanya-Abuja expressway while another one was mounted at AYA Roundabout, causing serious traffic jams.
The President visited the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, and wished them full and speedy recovery.
He reassured the survivors that the Federal Government would take full responsibility for settling their medical bills.
He also directed his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to settle N268,790.00 medical bill of a young girl in the Paediatric Ward of the hospital.
The girl’s mother, Deborah Stephen, had broken into tears on seeing President Buhari. She told him that her daughter had been shot by armed robbers who raided their home and that the family could not afford the medical bills.
The President who was accompanied by his personal aides and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, further visited the intensive care unit, the paediatric unit and general wards of the National Hospital.
Expressing his appreciation of the President’s visit, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Jafaru Momoh, described the President’s visit as a psychological booster which was bound to help the patients’ recovery quickly.
Meanwhile, the grounding traffic jams which sign posted the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan, following Islamists Boko Haram threat to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has returned to Abuja and environs.
Two female suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram struck at the Kuje Market and near a police station in the area almost simultaneously on Friday night.
Also, two suicide bombers (a male and a female) attacked Nyanya, where the Boko Haram had in April 14 and May 1, 2014 struck killing 70 people.
The police and the army have beefed up security in the FCT following Friday night’s suicide bomb attacks. Armed policemen and soldiers were drafted to different parts of the City.
It was gathered that besides Friday’s bomb blasts, the deployment of security agents might have been informed by intelligence reports that the Boko Haram insurgents could have sent more suicide bombers to the FCT.
Heavily armed security agents were sighted checking vehicles on Abuja-Keffi Road; Airport Road; Asokoro and Wuse areas of the FCT.
Security checks were also being conducted by soldiers at the various entrance routes to Abuja City.
Also National Hospital; Asokoro General Hospital and other health facilities, where victims were being treated. Motorists and visitors to the hospitals were thoroughly searched before they were allowed to enter the facilities.
The IG, in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, assured Nigerians of security, noting that the “Force is prepared to do all within its reach to ensure adequate security of lives and property.”
The statement added, “Following the incidents, the Police High Command ordered an immediate deployment of Police Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units to the scenes to prevent further destructions and ordered massive stop-and-search activities in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate the bomb blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers — a male and a female.
The Force admonished Nigerians to be vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious persons or objects.
Meanwhile, residents of Abuja City have deserted public places for fear of alleged reports that the use of four suicide bombers might be an indication that the Boko Haram sect had deployed more of such people in the city.
President Buhari
