A bomb explosion Friday
morning rocked the Malkohi camp of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs
killing no fewer than nine persons, while nine others were injured, most of
them in critical situation.
Among the injured were
four members of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other
humanitarian bodies overseeing the camp.
Malkohi is about 30
kilometers from Yola, the state capital and close to the 23rd Brigade of the
Nigerian Army Yola.
The loud bang from the
blast which occurred at exactly 10:15am shook the Adamawa state capital and its
environs.
The dead and the
injured where hurriedly evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, even as
the military immediately cordoned off the blast venue.
When vanguard visited
the scene of the blast, pieces of human flesh and blood stained clothes still
littered the area.
Hundreds of the IDPs in
the camp clustered around while many others were ordered out of the camp for
rescreening before going back into the camp.
The blast shattered
three tents and the NEMA stores housing relief materials for the IDPs.
Speaking to newsmen at
the blast venue, NEMA camp coordinator in Adamawa state, Sa’ad Bello suspected
that the blast might have originated from the over 300 IDPs brought into the
camp earlier Thursday morning from Madagali and 70 others from Sambisa forest.
The coordinator
confirmed that the number of dead might be higher because of the seriousness of
those injured.
In another
development,President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the Friday bombing of the
Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camp in Yola, Adamawa State, ordering tighter
security around the camps
He has also directed
security agencies and other relevant authorities security measures to be
proactive to forestall such occurrence.
Similarly, President
Buhari condemned and described as heinous and cowardly the bomb blast in the
Malkohi camp that resulted in loss of lives.
The President while
noting that the terrorists were bent on causing fear and panic among the
populace by detonating bombs within soft spots where hapless citizens reside
also urged the public not be deterred but rise in unison to completely stamp
out what was left of the insurgents.
“We must not let the
desperate and evil-minded criminals have any respite. There’s now an urgent
need for all to be, by paying utmost attention to security issues at all levels
– home, work, market, places of worship, schools, etc.
“To defeat terrorism,
all hands round the clock vigilence is called for. country’s security agents
with vital information to preempt and prevent crimes and to forestall further
insurgent activities”, he said.
Former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar has also expressed deep sadness at the bombing of the Yola
Internally Displaced Persons, IDP Camp that claimed several lives and injured
many persons.
In a press statement
released by his Media Office in Abuja on Friday, the former Vice President said
that the bombing could only have been planned and executed by persons with
hearts of evil, saying that the perpetrators will know no peace.
Atiku said it was
pathetic for these agents of evil to target the thousands of already
traumatised and vulnerable people mainly from Borno and Yobe who were seeking
refuge in the Camp.
“Many people I know
were working as volunteers in the camp, including staff and students of AUN,
who are being nurtured and mentored in the best tradition of service to
humanity by giving of their time, energy
and at times resources to their fellow human beings.
“Today’s attack is an
attempt to break the spirits of the people who came to seek refuge.
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