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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012
SUICIDE ATTACKS ON MEDIA HOUSES
•Executive Secretary of SEMA, Ishaku Dogo Makama discusing with a ThisDay staff who was at the scene of the explosion
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I don’t know where it came from and could not see anything. I felt something hit me and I think it was fragments of the bomb that entered my body. I fell down, and I saw other people lying on the ground too...
•The Honda vehicle carrying the explosives Photos: Tony AKOWE
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The intestines were out and the doctors had to manage to push them in and bandage the place. I had to call them to bring an ambulance so that he could be transferred to Shika. His wound was first degree and only God can say whether he will survive or not...
The Police Commissioner confirmed that two men were conveying the IED to an unknown destination when it exploded on them. The suspects were riding on a motorbike and are currently at the 44 Armed Forces Military Hospital where they are undergoing treatment. The explosion injured Mrs Immaculate Ezeji, who was in the company of her friend. Mrs Ezeji, who is the Chairperson of Nkpor Development Association (Women wing) in the state, said she and her secretary were on their way to Kurmi Mashi when the explosion occurred. She said: “I got a message that one of our members lost her husband and we were on our way to go and commiserate with her. “Before then, we had heard about the explosion in town and my husband said I should not go. I told him that since I am the chairperson, it would not be wise for me not to go since the woman who lost her husband is our member. So, he agreed with me and I called my secretary. We met at the Textile Workers House where I joined her in her car and we started going. “ At Angwan Muazu, we just heard a loud sound. I could not see or hear anything for some time. “My secretary came out of the
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car and since the door on my side was not opening, I had to come out from her side. When I came out, I felt my face was covered by sweat and when I touched it, I saw blood. Blood was just gushing out like water and one man now said they should take me to the hospital otherwise, I would die there. “So, I was taken to an hospital at Kabala junction where they gave me first aid and stitched the wound before my husband came and brought me here”. The mother of six said she still feels as if there are glass particles in her eyes while her ears still hum. The Public Relations Officer of St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, John Ali, said apart from the two persons still on admission as a result of the attack on ThisDay and The Sun offices, one was transferred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, near Zaria because of the nature of his wound. “The intestines were out and the doctors had to manage to push them in and bandage the place. I had to call them to bring an ambulance so that he could be transferred to Shika. His wound was first degree and only God can say whether he will survive or not”, he said.
Lay down your arms, father of slain student tells Boko Haram
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HE man whose only son and a final year student of University of Maiduguri was killed by members of Boko Haram has urged the sect to drop their arms, embrace peace and dialogue for the sake of the country’s unity. Chidi Ogbuji, the father of the late student, said shortly after the remains of his son, Chukwuma, were buried, that the bombings and armed attacks by the group, which have sent many Nigerians to their early graves, do not augur well for the progress of Nigeria. It could be recalled that late Chukwuma was allegedly shot dead in his residence in the university allegedly by Boko Haram insurgents during one of their attacks in the Borno State capital on January 6, this year. Chukwuma had rounded off his study, defended his project and was prepared to leave for home in less than 24 hours before he met his violent end. He was buried last Saturday at his father’s compound in Umuezeukwu Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. Speaking with newsmen after the interment, Ogbuji urged Boko Haram to refrain from their violent bombings and toe the path of dialogue and peace. Ogbuji said Nigerians should continue to live in love, peace and unity. “If all of us living on this planet earth embrace peace and have love for one another, God will be happy with us and will see us through”. He said there was hope for Nigeria but counselled that “with the way things are going today, people should turn back to God in truth and spirit”. Ogbuji said the death of Chukwuma has caused him unspeakable grief and sorrow, adding that he has, however, left everything to God. When the news of his son’s death reached him, Ogbuji said he petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly, security agencies and Abia State government
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If all of us living on this planet earth embrace peace and have love for one another, God will be happy with us and will see us through... with the way things are going today, people should turn back to God in truth and spirit Ugochukwu EKE, Umuahia
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to facilitate the release of his son’s body to him, but he said there was no positive response from any quarters, prompting him and his Christian brothers to undertake to retrieve the corpse and brought it home for burial. Giving the sermon during the funeral service, Brother Sunday Okiyi urged the family to be comforted by the fact that Chukwuma led a good Christian life, while the chairman of the service, Hezekiah Ugochukwu, said at the graveside that the Ogbuji family should draw inspiration from the experiences of Job, who after his travails, had everything he had lost replenished in many folds because he was found trustworthy by God.