Bomb Blasts hit bus park in Abuja, 71 people dead, 124 injured (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)

ABUJA (Reuters) - A bomb at a crowded bus station on the outskirts of Abuja killed at least 35 people during rush hour on Monday morning, witnesses said, the first such attack near the Nigerian capital for two years.
Body parts and blood were strewn across the station and an unruly crowd of several hundred onlookers were roaming around with security forces unable to keep them away.
"I was waiting to get on a bus when I heard a deafening explosion then saw smoke. People were running around in panic," said Mimi Daniels, who works in Abuja.
A Reuters cameraman saw 20 bodies at the station near Nyanyan bridge, about 8 km (5 miles) south of Abuja. A second Reuters correspondent saw at least 15 bodies separately loaded into waiting ambulances.
"More than two buses carrying workers were cut up by the blast," witness Kingsley Ajimobi said. "I saw

many people in the bus dead, and many were injured."
Police and the military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency in the northeast.
Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 60 people in an attack on a village in northeast Nigeria late last week. Eight people were killed in a separate attack at a teacher training college.




Updates 9.44 p.m:
Pandemonium struck this morning in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja when an explosion rocked an outskirt of the city and according to reports, no fewer than 200 people are feared dead.


* Ambulance moving victims from the scene of the incident to hospital
Earlier reports from eyewitnesses say the explosion sounded in a highly populated motor park less than five minutes drive from the Abuja city centre.

It was reported later that the blast actually took place at the Abuja urban mass transport company limited garage under the bridge at Nyanya.

* Fire fighters at the scene of the explosion in Abuja
It is not clear yet how the bomb was ferried into the park, but witnesses suspect it was planted by a suicide bomber.

* Abuja residents and passengers seen gathering at the scene of the explosion that rocked the capital city this morning
It was gathered that several dead bodies now litter the blood spattered park and the expressway leading to the city.
Some of the dead victims and the injured are being taken to the hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the police, the Vehicle Inspection Office, Federal Road Safety Commission.
Newsmen at the scene of the tragic incident counted more than 50 bodies that are yet to be evacuated.

 * Picture from the scene of the blast
Several vehicles including about 12 government owned high capacity buses were destroyed in the attack.
Earlier reports say some of the buses were said to be loaded with passengers when the explosion occurred.
According to the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, Manzo Ezekiel, the incident happened during Monday's rush hour at the park.
“This morning there was an explosion at the Nyanya Motor Park,” Ezekiel said.
“Rescue teams are already on ground. There were so many people there at that time, so we think there must have been some injuries,” he added.

Some of the dead victims and injured were seen taken to hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the police, the VIO, FRSC, NSCDC and NEMA.

Reporters counted more than 50 bodies that were yet to be evacuated. But witnesses said more than 150 bodies may have been moved before newsmen's arrival.
Some of the bodies are mangled beyond recognition.

As at the time of filing this report, there was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on the militant group Boko Haram.

The Islamists have been waging an increasingly bloody insurgency in the northeast.
The Boko Haram militants killed at least 135 people in attacks on several villages in northeast Nigeria late last week.
Eight people were killed in a separate attack at a teacher training college, witnesses said.
Yesterday, in Bama area, another 60 people were killed by the militants.

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Updates 9.58 pm: (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)

*Some of the images we have are too offensive. We decide not to post them here.
Latest reports from authorities confirmed that the blast actually took place at the Abuja urban mass transport company limited garage under the bridge at Nyanya.

This is contrary to earlier reports that the explosion sounded in an unnamed highly populated motor park less than five minutes drive from the Abuja city centre.

* Ambulance moving victims from the scene of the incident to hospital
It is not clear yet how the bomb was ferried into the park, but witnesses suspect it was planted by a suicide bomber.

* Fire fighters at the scene of the explosion in Abuja
It was gathered that several dead bodies now litter the blood spattered park and the expressway leading to the city.
Some of the dead victims and the injured are being taken to the hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the Nigerian Police, the Vehicle Inspection Office, Federal Road Safety Commission.

* Abuja residents and passengers seen gathering at the scene of the explosion that rocked the capital city this morning
Newsmen at the scene of the tragic incident reported that they counted more than 50 bodies that are yet to be evacuated.

 * Picture from the scene of the blast
Several vehicles including about 12 government owned high capacity buses were destroyed in the attack.
Reports say some of the buses were loaded with passengers when the explosion occurred.
According to the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, Manzo Ezekiel, the incident happened during Monday's rush hour at the park.
“This morning there was an explosion at the Nyanya Motor Park,” Ezekiel said.
“Rescue teams are already on ground. There were so many people there at that time, so we think there must have been some injuries,” he added.
Some of the dead victims and injured were seen taken to hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the police, the VIO, FRSC, NSCDC and NEMA.
Other witnesses said more than 150 bodies may have been moved before newsmen's arrival.
Some of the bodies are mangled beyond recognition.
Millions of Nigerians have gone on social media to comment on the tragic incident.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on his twitter handle tweeted: Atiku Abubakar ‏@atiku "I am angered and saddened by the news of multiple explosions that occurred in Nyanya bus park in Abuja this morning."
Also, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati tweeted this: "President Jonathan directs the medical services to do their very best to save the lives of those injured in Nyanya bombing."
Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, aslo went on twitter to condemn the tragic incident.
He tweeted: "Not again! Another bomb blast, another bloody day in Abuja. Horrifying! My thoughts and prayers are with the victims & their families."
Meanwhile, NEMA has warned citizens living around where the blast took place to steer clear the scene of the explosion.

"The explosion occurred at 6.30am local time," the Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Sani Datti said. "The agency has found it necessary to also warn ordinary citizens to keep off the bomb explosion scene."

According to Datti, Search and Rescue officers as well as other response agencies “are now at the scene and have cordoned off the area, adding that more details would be updated soon.”

It was reported that the explosion had caused intense apprehension in Nyanya, Mararaba and its environs as many residents stayed in doors.

“Me and my family are still in doors and may not go out today because there are frightening rumours of another possible attack,” Chidi James, a resident who lives close to the scene of the explosion,  said over the phone.

Datti however assured that NEMA and other government agencies were doing their best to condone the area in order to douse the already heightened tension.

“Our men are there and we are doing our best to calm issues. I will update you as we go on,” he said.
Residents have been advised to check for relations at hospitals.

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and Interior Minister, Abba Moro have been reported to have visited the scene of the blast.

President Goodluck Jonathan is also expected to make appearance at the scene. But security agencies are fighting hard to keep a surging crowd away from the scene, as more evidence is collected.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on the militant group Boko Haram.
The Islamists have been waging an increasingly bloody insurgency in the northeast.
The Boko Haram militants killed at least 135 people in attacks on several villages in northeast Nigeria late last week.
Eight people were killed in a separate attack at a teacher training college, witnesses said.
Yesterday, in Bama area, another 60 people were killed by the militants.