Nigeria: 18 die in UN building suicide bomb attack
By Emeka Umejei – Lagos: Nigeria has witnessed another suicide bomb attack on United Nations building in Abuja barely two months after the country’s Police headquarters was attacked by a suicide bomber in Abuja.
The suicide bomber reportedly drove a wired car into the UN headquarters in Abuja on Friday killing about 18 people according to Abuja Police Commissioner, Mike Zuokumoor.
“Many people have been taken to different hospitals so we’re not sure of casualty figures. It is at least 18,” said the police commissioner.
In his reaction, President Goodluck Jonathan described the attack as barbaric, senseless and cowardly.
The President believes that the attack is a most despicable assault on the United Nations’ objectives of global peace and security, and the sanctity of human life to which Nigeria wholly subscribes,” the statement released by his Spokeperson ,Reuben Abati stated.
The president extends his sincere condolences to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon and all members of the United Nations family who have lost loved ones in the heinous attack.”
Stating further, the statement emphasized that President Jonathan reaffirms the Federal Government’s total commitment to vigorously combat the incursion of all forms of terrorism into Nigeria, and wishes to reassure all Nigerians and the international community that his Administration will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Also, the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack. “We do not yet have precise casualty figures but they are likely to be considerable,”
“This was an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others,” Ban said in a statement to reporters. We condemn this terrible act, utterly.”
According to security sources and witnesses, the car rammed into the building and blew up, badly damaging parts of an office complex where close to 400 people normally work for U.N. agencies.
Body parts were strewn on the ground as emergency workers, soldiers and police swarmed around the building, cordoned roads and rushed the wounded to hospital.
As at press time, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, several sources have pointed accusing fingers at Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram.
There are also others who claim the attack was in reaction to FG’s endorsement of Libya opposition group, National Transition Council (NTC) . They alleged that Libya Dictator Muamar Ghadafi has a sympathy among Islamic groups in the country who have enjoyed his sponsorship over the years.
