Police confirm 12 dead, 19 injured from Thursday’s explosion in Nyanya

The police said 12 persons died following an explosion that rocked Nyanya, on the outskirt of Abuja, on Thursday.

The spokesman of the police, CSP Frank Mba, told newsmen at the scene of the incident that 19 others were injured and were now receiving treatment at the various hospitals in the city.

Mba, who described the number of the casualties as “provisional” said investigation into the explosion had already commenced.

Among those who visited scene were the Commander-General of Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Olu Abolurin, the Police DIG Operations, Mike Zoukumor, Commander Guards Brigade and the FCT Director, State Security Service.

Eye witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident occured from a Volkswagen golf car which drove from the Keffi end of the road and exploded just about 50 metres away from the scene of the April 14 blast.

Meanwhile, two additional security check-points have been set up between Marraba and Nyanya.

Vehicles passing through the area are now being subjected to stop and search.

Authorities of the National Hospital have confirmed that six dead bodies, victims of the explosion, have been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

The hospital’s spokesman,Tayo Haastrup, told NAN that another nine were receiving treatment.

He said medical personnel have been mobilised to attend to the injured and many of them have stabilised.

He, however, said the hospital was finding it difficult to cope with the number, since it has still some victims of the last explosion on admission.

Haastrup said as a result two victims of the Thursday blast would be moved to Federal Staff Hospital.