President Jonathan Cancels Trip To Bayelsa Because Of Bomb Blasts

FOLLOWING serial bomb blasts that rocked two state capitals in the Northeast at the weekend, resulting in many casualties, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cancelled all his appointments, including attendance at his younger brother’s wedding in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The cancellation, a mark of respect for victims of the bomb blasts in Borno and Yobe States, also affected another function at the airport in Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who confirmed the cancellations, however, debunked insinuations that President Jonathan shied away from the function in Bayelsa State for fear of Governor Timipre Sylva over issues that border on clearing him (Sylva) to contest the November 19, 2011 primaries on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Abati said Jonathan vehemently described the bombings, perpetrated during the holy period of Eid el-Kabir, as “totally condemnable”, warning “any group behind such dastardly act, which is a violation of the rights of Nigerians, to desist from doing so or be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Although it was difficult to ascertain the actual number of deaths recorded in the multiple blasts that hit three major areas in Yobe State, including Damaturu and Potiskum, at the weekend, it is believed that, at least, 19 lives may have been lost to the terror acts.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and residents of Potiskum, who gave this casualty figure said that 19 members of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps, including two special military policemen, were killed in the multiple attacks and bombings of the state’s Police Headquarters on Gujba Road, a Military three-story building office in Damaturu, and four shops in Potiskum on Friday at about 3.30pm.

Potiskum is 100 kilometres (62 miles) West of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

However, Associated Press (AP) yesterday reported 67 deaths in both states.

Confirming the bombings in Damaturu, Commissioner of Police, Solaiman Lawan, said: “Suspected bombers in some vehicles attacked and blast the three-story building at the 300 housing estates on Maiduguri road at about 3.20pm, destroying the building along with two patrol vehicles.

“After the Damaturu blasts, the suspects proceeded to Potiskum and threw improvised explosive devices at the police station, but did not destroy the station.

“Instead, four shops opposite the Police Station went up in flames killing some civilians. We are still ascertaining this from the Potiskum Divisional Police station.”

On the casualties of the blasts, a Potiskum resident, Mallam Audu Ibrahim, told The Guardian that he saw the bodies of four Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps, after the suspected bombers threw an explosive device at the police station.

He said the information he got from his wife, Hajiya Adama, on the bombings of the three-story building in Damaturu was that, at least, 15 soldiers and Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps members were killed in the multiple blasts that rocked the town late afternoon on Friday.

Audu said: “The unofficial reports we are receiving indicated that two soldiers, and 13 paramilitary Civil Defence and Federal Road Safety Corps were killed in the multiple blasts, while the number of civilians wounded and treated in private hospitals has reached 12, as at the time my wife called me on phone.”

When The  Guardian called the police chief to give an update and the exact number of casualties from the Damaturu and Potiskum bomb blasts, Lawal said: “I am in an emergency meeting at the Police Headquarters right now, I cannot respond to your inquiries. Call in five minutes.”

However, the police did not respond to several calls made within an interval of 20 minutes.

According to Abati, the President cancelled all engagements, including the wedding of his younger brother in Bayelsa State and another appointment at the airport at 4pm when the report of the incident reached him.  He said it would be wrong and insensitive to be seen to be celebrating when such tragedy occurred.”

Abati said that his principal rather chose to mourn with families of the victims of the blasts in the two states but assured all Nigerians and the international community that his administration was doing everything to secure the country and ensure that law-abiding citizens moved about their businesses without fear.

He, therefore, reaffirmed his charge to security agencies to step up efforts to curb the menace of terrorism while restating the resolve of his administration to fight the scourge to its logical conclusion.

President Jonathan condemned the attacks, saying they could not be in the name of religion, but a pursuit of an unholy agenda and a violation of the spirit of the season that signifies love, brotherhood, friendship and good neighbourliness.