Residents of the Plateau State capital who were still counting the
death toll from the series of attacks on villages and other forms of
violence arising from an ethno-religious crisis that have refused to
end were jolted by two blasts on Sunday night.
The twin blasts occurred at the busy West of Mines Junction
popular as a bustling relaxation spot where drinks, roasted fish,
chicken and beef are sold. A number of restaurants and bars where
people relax over drinks also dot the area.
Steven Samaila, an injured victim and his
brother
At normal periods, the area is crowded with vehicles as fun-loving
people gather around the barbecue hotspots waiting for their cat
or croaker fish popularly called “point and kill” to be roasted and
garnished for consumption. The news of the blast therefore made
the imagination of many who knew how crowded the place could be
run wild with many predicting that like the bombing at the UN House
in Abuja or the Christmas Eve blasts in Jos, a lot of people would
have been killed.
Fortuitously, by divine intervention or probably as a result of the
unending crisis and rumours of plans to bomb some places in the city
which had been rife for some weeks, the usual crowd in the area
was absent on the fateful Sunday when the blasts occurred at
about 8.15 pm.
It was alleged that some young men posing to be customers who
came in two cars might have dropped the improvised explosive
devices as bomb experts call them, at two different points in the
area and timed them to explode at in interval of five minutes.
The blasts went off as planned but did not do the damage envisaged
by the planters. There was no death and only about five people had
what could be considered as minor injuries. Some of those knocked
to the ground by the blasts later revived. There was also no
extensive damage to nearby buildings.
Nevertheless, it was a horrid reminder of the Christmas Eve blasts
in two parts of the state in which many were killed or maimed. The
sound of the blast alone, according to eyewitnesses, made people
scamper into various directions for fear of more blasts as it
happened in the previous blasts.
For Steven Samaila who sells recharge cards in the area, it was a
lucky escape. One of the blasts occurred not too far from where
he was and although he was injured on both legs and his hand, he is
grateful to God for sparing his life. “I was sitting under my umbrella
where I sell recharge cards.
I don’t know what exactly happened but I suddenly found myself on
the ground away from where I was sitting”, he told Saturday
Vanguard amid pains from his injury. His brother who took over the
narration said after the blasts, he saw Steven coming from the
direction of the blast with blood dripping from his hands.
“At first we thought he only injured his hands but we discovered
that he had injuries on both legs, so my friend and I rushed him to
Bingham University Teaching Hospital where he received treatment.”
Samaila who still had bandage on both legs and his hands said he has
spent over N10, 000 on his treatment lamented that patronage
had dropped in the area because people now see it as a dangerous
spot. “Our business is not booming like before. The level of
patronage by customers has dropped because of fear.
We are really suffering and we are calling on the government to
take seriously security measures or else our source of livelihood will
be taken away”, he stressed.
Joy Jonathan who owns a barbecue spot was luckier. According to
her, “On the night of the explosion, I was packaging an order made
by a customer when suddenly I heard a sound, ‘boom!’ a little distance
away. My brothers and sisters that were with me all ran away
leaving me behind.
So when I looked around and realized that people were running, I
also took to my heels leaving my wares and phone behind .While I
was running my brother stopped me and asked ‘’where you dey go.”
I became confused because I obviously didn’t know where I was
heading to. As I stood, I realized that I left my phone behind so I
turned back to get it.
As I was picking the phone I heard the second explosion ‘boom!’ this
time very close to me so I ran away without coming back to pick
any of my things. However, my neighbour brought my wares and
phone back home. Despite the blasts I resumed my business the
next day but we are still nursing fear of the unknown, fear of what
might happen next.”
Also speaking to Saturday Vanguard, Lohna Lar who runs a
restaurant in the area described it as an unforgettable experience.
“On the day of the explosion, I was serving my customers who had
ordered different dishes on the menu. It was a very busy day with
customers trooping in and making orders. In fact, that Sunday was
the first time since the August 29 crisis that we had such
patronage.
Then all of a sudden, I heard the blast which shook the whole area.
Then I shouted ‘e don happen’ because there had been rumours of
impending attack on this street . We were just running to different
directions. Before I could reach the other end of the street close to
a sign post I heard another blast, so I became confused, not knowing
where to turn to.
To be honest, I can’t really explain how I escaped, it’s just God. My
only consolation though is that since I resumed business there has
been police patrol at night.”
For now, normalcy has returned to the area even though as some
of them said, the level of patronage is still down as people rush
home once dusk is approaching. Many residents expressed hope that
the security and other measures recently announced by President
Goodluck Jonathan would help restore peace to the state.
| Posted: at | |
Larrykingomoj
kebella
........yu already no that 
...heheh...if yu wanna smell what kebella is cooking........bring it up!!
morgrawl231
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