Two massive bombings rock Jos, 46 dead

No fewer than 46 people were killed and 45 others wounded in two explosions around the ever busy Jos Main Market, between Railway Terminus and the temporary site of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, at about 3:28p.m on Tuesday.

Thick smoke billowed in the wake of the explosions which burned several shops to the ground, shattering windows and spreading rubble on the road, as cars collided and drivers and others scampered for safety.

Police, ambulance and other safety providers were seen rushing to the area.

The first explosion went off in the centre of the market around 3.28 p.m., while the second followed about 14 minutes later.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the blasts, although Islamist sect Boko Haram, which has set off bombs across the country as it becomes increasingly bloodthirsty, is likely to be a prime suspect.

Chris Olakpe, the commissioner of police, Plateau State, who addressed journalist on the incident, said  the blasts also injured 45 people.

According to him, the first bomber came in a Fiat bus and parked at the market’s central business area.

“The second blast, which was concealed in a Toyota Siena bus, happened 100 metres away from the first one,” he said.

Olakpe said that the casualty figures were collated after visits to Plateau Specialist Hospital and Bingham Hospital, Jos.

“As I told you, there should be more because we have not gone to the new and old Jos University Teaching Hospitals,” he further explained.

The police commissioner said that comprehensive details of casualties could be determined after the security teams had visited the two health establishments.

Olapke said that the market had been cordoned off and urged members of the public to steer clear of the affected place in their own interest.

“Men of our anti-bomb unit will comb the market before it is declared safe for business activities to continue,” he said.

He advised members of the public to always avoid the temptation of rushing to bomb scenes, adding that people around such scenes should quickly lie down for “at least 30 minutes” before scurrying to safety.

The police chief advised Nigerians to be security conscious in every environment they find themselves.

“We also expect people to promptly report any suspicious character to the security agencies.”

But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) declared that the casualty rate after the twin bomb blasts at the Terminus market in Jos could be best described as catastrophic.

“I can’t tell you the figure of those killed by the blasts now, because we are still evacuating bodies from the scene.

“The only thing I can say is that the casualty figure is very massive. It is a catastrophe,” Abdulsalam Abubakar, the NEMA coordinator, North-Central, said in Jos.

Abubakar said both explosives were loaded in parked cars.

“The bombers parked the cars and left the explosives to detonate. It was in the market and at a peak period. So, you can only imagine what could have happened,” he said.

He said dead bodies and mutilated human parts were being deposited at the old and new Jos University Teaching Hospitals, as well as the Plateau Special Hospital.

“There are also a massive number of people injured. We have conveyed some to various hospitals,” the NEMA official said.

He said that an idea of the number of casualties was only possible after the rescue operation.

“We will have to first finish the operation and then visit the various hospitals. For now, we are only picking dead bodies all over the place,” Abubakar said.

Maj-Gen. Dave Enetie, commander of the Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, confirmed the blasts but did not give further details.

An eye-witness, Peter Amine, said the first explosion went off in the centre of the market, while the second followed about 14 minutes later, adding that the incident occurred during peak business hour.

“We were inside the market when I heard a loud explosion at about 3:28 p.m.

“Before I knew what was happening, a vehicle part landed just by my legs,” a visibly shaken Amine said.

He said that thick dark smoke engulfed the scene, thus compounding the already chaotic situation as horror-stricken persons ran in all directions.

According to Jos resident, Veronica Samson, “There was a loud bang that shook my whole house. Then smoke was rising. There were bodies in the streets and people rushing injured to hospital in their cars.”

HOPE IKWE, Jos