A bomb rocked the UN building in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday, killing a number of people, leaving others trapped and causing heavy damage, officials and witnesses said.
Some witnesses reported that the bomb exploded after a suspect rammed a car through the front gate. Parts of the first two floors of the building were blown out and rescue workers scrambled to rescue those left inside. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of bombings in recent months.
“A number of dead people and injured have been moved in ambulances to the hospital,” police spokesman Yemi Ajayi said, adding that he was unable to provide a figure for the number of casualties. A member of the security personnel speaking on condition of anonymity spoke of “many dead.”
“It looks like a suicide bombing,” the source said at the scene. “A guy drove a Honda car, forced his way through the gate and rammed into the building, and then the bomb exploded.”
One UN staff member said people were still trapped in the building that sustained heavy damage.
“I don’t know what is going on. Many people are still trapped upstairs and we need a crane to bring people down,” said the UN staffer who did not want to give her name.
Two cranes were later brought to the scene and rescue workers were trying to free those trapped on the upper floors. Police said there was an explosion and UN officials said it was caused by a bomb. “We spoke to our colleagues in Lagos, who confirmed that the explosion was caused by a bomb. But we have no further information for now,” a UN spokeswoman in Geneva told AFP.
where are we heading to in these country? bombing we never solve the problem.
Comments are closed.