Victims of suspected bomb explosion in Rukubi village of Nasarawa State have called on the federal government to set up an independent investigative panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.
They say they want the perpetrators of the deadly act to face justice.
In an interview with newsmen in Lafia, one of the victims, Mallam Usman Bawa, who was receiving medical treatment at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, said the attack was “unprovoked”.
He recounted that residents of the area had come out in large numbers from their homes in Rukubi community to offload their cows on arrival from Benue State where the animals had been held for days as a result of violation of the state government’s anti open-gracing laws.
According to Mallam Bawa, while some of them were bringing down the cows from the vehicle, others were preventing them from going to the stream to drink water, having not been fed for days.
“If cows stay for days without food and they are made to drink water after they are released, they will die,” he explained.
“Among us that were affected by the explosion were those who came out to lend helping hands for the owners of the cows that were arrested by Benue State Government.” He said.
Mallam Umar Usman who was seen with multiple injuries in different parts of his body pointed out that the explosion shattered his legs but he was thankful to God for saving his life.
Another victim, Mallam Adamu Abdullahi stated that he lost three of his friends who accompanied him to the area to receive the cows while he escaped death with broken arm and deep cuts in his stomach and other parts of his body.
He said it was not clear to him whether it was airstrike or bomb and other explosive devices were planted in the vehicle that conveyed the cows.
A resident of Rukubi village Mallam Haruna Bawa who was also at the hospital to attend to his brother said he rushed to the scene of the explosion after hearing a loud noise with thick smoke emanating from the area.
He noted that he counted over 54 lifeless bodies including four of his brothers. “Some of the people who died in the attack were butchers who were invited to slaughter the cows that felt sick while in detention to avoid wastage.”
The victims of the bomb explosion were on admission at a private facility and Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital, with two more deaths.
Meanhwile, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramhan Nansel said security personnel have been deployed to the area to forestall reprisals.
Ramhan Nansel stated that police in collaboration with other security agencies were engaged in to restoring confidence in the residents of Rukubi village and Doma Local Government Area.
He appealed to the federal and state governments to come to their aid in order to arrest those involved, as well as calm the situation and restore normalcy in the area.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted a period of sunshine and haziness from Sunday to Tuesday across the country. According to the weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicts sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere over the northern region during this forecast period. The North Central region is also expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere.
In the Inland states of the South, NiMet anticipates cloudy skies with spells of sunshine. Coastal cities are expected to have cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states during the afternoon and evening hours.
Dust haze is foreseen over the northern region on Monday, while the North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere. The Inland states of the South and coastal cities are predicted to have cloudy skies with spells of sunshine, along with the likelihood of morning mist over Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. Thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.
On Tuesday, NiMet forecasts dust haze with a visibility range of 2km to 5 km over the northern region. The North Central region is expected to experience dust haze as well. In the Inland states of the South and coastal cities, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are anticipated.
NiMet issues a cautionary note about dust particles in suspension and advises the public, especially individuals with respiratory issues, to take necessary precautions. The agency also warns of the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall leading to flash floods and advises the public to exercise caution. Strong winds are likely to precede and accompany thunderstorms, and disaster risk managers, agencies, and individuals are advised to be proactive during the rainy season.
Finally, NiMet advises airline operators to obtain updated weather reports from its office for effective planning in their operations.
Each of the 109 senators in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has contributed their December salaries to assist the victims of the recent bombing incident in Kaduna that occurred last Sunday. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, made this announcement on Sunday during a visit to the Kaduna State Government House, leading a prominent delegation of Senate members. The delegation was welcomed at the Government House by Governor Uba Sani. Further information will be provided soon.
The 64th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government is currently taking place in Abuja, Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is set to chair the session, which is being attended by leaders from the 15-member block.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), countries such as Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have already gathered at the venue, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Other member states present include Benin, Gambia, Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal.
In addition to the Heads of State and Government, the meeting is being attended by the ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the U.S. Lead diplomat for Africa, Molly Phee, the African Union (AU), and the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simao.
The agenda for the end-of-year meeting includes a comprehensive review of decisions and agreements previously made by the body. This encompasses topics such as the adoption of the ECO as a common currency for the region. The regional body will also deliberate on issues such as the recent coup d’etats in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.
Furthermore, the meeting will address concerns related to climate change, democracy, bilateral relations, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
