[size=14pt]Bombs kill 10 at PDP rally[/size]

[img]http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/thumbnail.php?file=Pix_1_999707114.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]

Niger State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and other top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials were lucky yesterday when bombs exploded at the flag-off of the party’s zonal campaign rally in Suleja.

There was an explosion that threw up a huge, thick black smoke and dust. By the time the scene became clear, 10 people lay dead. Twenty were injured.

President Goodluck Jonathan vowed last night that the perpetrators will not go scot free.

One person has been arrested, presidential spokesman Ima Niboro said in a statement last night.

The first explosion occurred at about 1:30p.m. The second went off 20 minutes after the governor had been whisked off the scene at the spot where his convoy’s vehicles were parked.

The explosions occurred at the Government Secondary School, Kantoma, venue of the rally, after unknown persons threw a hand – held grenade through the fence.

Witnesses said the grenade was thrown from a white 18-seater bus onto the rally grounds immediately after the national anthem when the governor was about leaving the venue. The explosion threw the town into pandemonium.

The governor who was about entering his official car when the blast occurred, attempted to go back and ascertain the cause of the blast when his security detail forced him into the black SUV and whisked him away to an unknown place. Other party officials scampered to safety.

Though details about the victims were unknown, it was gathered that a middle age school teacher was among the dead. His remains were buried in Kantoma, in accordance with Muslim rites. Other victims we learnt were mostly party supporters.

Seven bodies were found littering the rally ground, as a result of the impact of the explosion, while three others died at the hospital from the injuries sustained from the blast.

At the Suleja General Hospital where victims were taken, 21 people were found critically injured. Majority of the injured were from the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps who were by the school fence controlling traffic flow, at the time of the explosions.

It was also gathered that four of the victims with serious injuries were referred to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, in the Federal Capital Territory. The bodies of the dead were deposited at the Suleja Hospital.

The second blast, 20 minutes after the first, occurred right at the spot where the governor’s convoy cars were parked.

The police cordoned off the area, forcing motorists travelling from Minna to Suleja to divert to the town through Maje and Diko. Parents rushed to schools to pick their children and wards. Shops and stalls were closed.

The Director-General, Media and Public Affairs to the governor, Mallam Bala Abdulkadir, said the police were on top of the matter and that the government was awaiting police investigation.

Police spokesman Richard Oguche said the Commissioner had directed the Area Commander to begin investigation into the incident immediately.

Governor Aliyu declared a three-day mourning period to pray for the repose of the souls of those who died.

The governor stated this in Suleja when visited on the victims at the Suleja General hospital said the state government would foot the medical bills of the injured.

The governor also pledged to support the family of those who died.

Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida condemned the explosions.

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu also lamented loss of lives "on account of security lapses".

Babangida said recurring bomb explosions are eroding the beauty and attraction of political campaigns.

He asked the Federal Government to ensure enhanced intelligence gathering so that security agencies would be a step ahead of the bombers.

Babangida, who made his feelings known in a statement last night in Abuja by his Spokesman Kassim Afegbua said the bombers were callous.

The statement said: "Bomb explosions are gradually removing the beauty and attraction of political campaigns from being a platform where issues are presented to the electorate to being one that is dominated with fear, apprehension, suspicion, intimidation and threat to humanity.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/29804.html

10 people?! Why? May the souls of the fallen rest in peace and God give succour to the bereaved.

It wasn't bombs, but grenades. So, its easy to deduce that someone with military connections is involved. Perhaps, forensics would determine which barracks the weapons came from.

Beaf:

It wasn't bombs, but grenades. So, its easy to deduce that someone with military connections is involved. Perhaps, forensics would determine which barracks the weapons came from.

Well, uve been boasting for a bit now how your Niger-Delta homies have access to super-crazy military hardware and could take ova the country if they "Felt Like It" . . . . . .

bk.babe97y:

Well, uve been boasting for a bit now how your Niger-Delta homies have access to super-crazy military hardware and could take ova the country if they "Felt Like It" . . . . . .

Stvpid as ever.

Nigerians just don't want to learn, stay away from Badluck Jonathan if you don't want to die.

Eko Ile:

Nigerians just don't want to learn, stay away from Badluck Jonathan if you don't want to die.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/402192_neanderthalBuhari_jpg94a5dcb7e8dc00198a7a1091cb279960

@eko ile,
sounds like the message whoever did the bombing is passing.
Do u happen to come across any1 of them.
Lol

Eko Ile:

Nigerians just don't want to learn, stay away from Badluck Jonathan if you don't want to die.

I advice that you please be careful with such utterances. Was it you who threw the bomb or you the people responsible? Perhaps we should expect more of same?

The servers log your IP address and any pwrson interested in picking you up can do so. There are things we should not joke with.

Nigeria is on the drift, being pulled by religious and ethinic sentiments and it is a matter of time, we shall see the last tension that will about the spliting.

This has only increased my resolve to vote Mr. President.

Why hasnt the DG of the SSS been sacked? all these bombings show how inept the security service is

.

aLL TIME greatest fraud - Emperor Nero Jonathan Omo ode Goodluck.


We go free one day

@BLACKSTAR.
u are gradually beginning to sound/write like beaf these days , politics is eating you up,. y?

Beaf:

www.nairaland.com/attachments/402192_neanderthalBuhari_jpg94a5dcb7e8dc00198a7a1091cb279960

beaf and his illogical arguments.

blacksta:

aLL TIME greatest fraud - Emperor Nero Jonathan Omo ode Goodluck.


We go free one day

LOL - God forbid bad thing


I hear they say them don ban beaf for 5 days .

NL politics would be propaganda free for 5 days

Is this different from the one that missed its target and killed 3 people?

The same Suleja . . .

President Goodluck Jonathan vowed last night that the perpetrators will not go scot free.

na shakara. where those accused of the 1st october bombing? dokpesi was the first accused and since he has joined the pdp and GEJ team, he was made holly again. pdp has nothing to offer apart from bombing, kidnapping, bad roads, no electricity, no water, sound education, no hospital, no judiciary, no inec, and no, no no, nooo noooo noooo.
as long as they remain in power, we will not rest both in spirit and in physical.
pdp must go away with their criminalities.

1025:

na shakara. where those accused of the 1st october bombing? dokpesi was the first accused and since he has joined the pdp and GEJ team, he was made holly again. pdp has nothing to offer apart from bombing, kidnapping, bad roads, no electricity, no water, sound education, no hospital, no judiciary, no inec, and no, no no, nooo noooo noooo.
as long as they remain in power, we will not rest both in spirit and in physical.
pdp must go away with their criminalities.

Haba bros, the fact that you don't support Mr President does not mean you will allow your emotions to take over your reasoning ability.

The first bombing with political undertone was carried out by a member of the Buhari led gang of misguided soldiers in the person of IBB. Kidnaping was introduced by buhari and his gang. They threw away our laws, used decrees and gaged our laws. Every opposition was muzzled including the press.

Only in this admistration is the Judiciary truelly free. did you say no INEC? Inec has never been this free since the days of Buhari until now. Mr. President is a gentleman. The truth is this, the PDP as led by Jonathan is not the same as was led by OBJ. OBJ was was picked by a member of the Buhari gang, in the person of IBB.

Are you accusing Mr President of throwing the bomb? What if this bomb was thrown at CPC or ACN rally? You are so unfair.

^^

I am really worried by the way people reason and allow sentiments to becloud their Judgment and reasoning ability, try your best to talk sense into them and trust me some of them are in the comfort of their home abroad inciting rubbish here on Nairaland.

It is funny how most of these people were GEJ supporters a couple of months ago, but when they see one of their own running with Buhari, they are running to his side.

EzeUche_:

It is funny how most of these people were GEJ supporters a couple of months ago, but when they see one of their own running with Buhari, they are running to his side.

Why wont they run when GEJ will not stop decorating killers and looters? U are right I was also for GEJ a couple of month ago but after closely watching him: importing dust-bins from UK, depleting the foreign reserve, saved by d Grand thief, with nothing to show for it, making statements and denying them on the same day everyday, giving bribe as if he is IBB's first born.,.,.,

Abeg shun sentiments, no lover of positive change will reject an achiever like Buhari and vote for a mediocre like GEJ and his looting/killing PDP

[size=20pt]Vote Buhari-Bakare 2011 [/size]_{for the future of our children}

i thought 'one person was arrested?'

so who is the person?

Some people make untamed comments in public and go freely on the street. God is in charge of nigeria

Odechukwu and his people are at it again.

First October 1, then Xmas and New year bombing now this.

What happened to Dokpesi who bombed Abuja on October 1?

May God save us from the clueless leadership of Johnny

I rather have GEJ run this nation than a man who believes in Sharia.

Religion should never mix with politics and that BB ticket is an abominatiom.

EzeUche_:

I rather have GEJ run this nation than a man who believes in Sharia.

Religion should never mix with politics and that BB ticket is an abomination.

Why is it an abomination?

agabaI23:

Why is it an abomination?

Religion mixed with more religion. It is not good to mix religion with politics.

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25

EzeUche_:

Religion mixed with more religion. It is not good to mix religion with politics.

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25

I do not agree with you. There is nothing new in people of different faiths coming together to govern.

He was trying to appeal to Bakare's voting block (Christians) knowing that he 'has the ears' of the other voting block (Moslems).

McCain did it in selecting Palin but it backfired anyway.

A CPC candidate has been questioned.

U de vex?:

A CPC candidate has been questioned.

Incompetent Jonathan is at it again - flip flop, lies, inconclusive, propaganda, terror, etc.

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/jonathan-campaign-accuses-buhari-suleja-bomb-blast-then-hurriedly-withdraws-statement

The Goodluck Presidential Council has issued a bizarre press statement asking that one of his main challengers, Muhammad Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), be held responsible for the bomb blast that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party’s rally in Suleja, Niger State, on Thursday. At least 10 people died in the incident.

The press statement was issued by the Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) and signed by Mike Omeri, its Director of Research and Strategy. But fearing public backlash regarding the press release, the PCC recalled the statement from some media outlets.

When SaharaReporters got in touch with Mr. Omeri, he denied knowledge of the statement. But Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Buhari campaign, said journalists have inundated him with questions regarding the contents of the press release. He described the action of the PCC as unfortunate.

The Jonathan campaign has a history of lying about controversial documents circulated by its operatives. His office has also routinely lied about its actions.

For instance, the office of the president denied that any of its operatives sent text messages to detained MEND leader, Henry Okah, after the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja in which Okah was asked to “blame it on northern elements.” SaharaReporters later fished out the telephone numbers used in that act, the name of the operative involvedn as well as the exact message.

Also, when Pastor Tunde Bakare led an SNG delegation to visit the president, he bribed the group with $50,000 but the group rejected the money. The office of the president and the minister –Godsday Orubebe-who handed over the bribe denied the act in several press statements until SaharaReporters confirmed that the group was indeed bribed by Jonathan by obtaining a voice recording of the fiery pastor. He is now Buhari’s running mate.

Recently, also, SaharaReporters revealed a document authored by Mr. Omeri detailing how Mr. Jonathan intended to rig the PDP primaries in detail. The Jonathan’s campaign also characteristically denied that document.

A political analyst who reviewed the Jonathan blame statement told SaharaReporters it was of extreme interest not only that the Jonathan team prepared the statement, but also hurriedly withdrew it from general circulation. “Jonathan is obviously feeling the heat from Buhari although Buhari has been campaigning only for a few days,” he said. “We must strap on our seat belts.”

^
The article you quoted sounds like the worst bunch of lies that anyone can make up. How can anybody quote some phantom press release and expect to be taken seriously? Nigerians arent daft.

Latest SMS messages

Bakare wey our balance?

Lets meet at Buhari campaign office

This are one of the comment that we get from buhari's islamist supporters in many disquise!!.quote from EKO ILE, Nigerians just don't want to learn, stay away from Badluck Jonathan if you don't want to die.   let me tell u we will not be intimitated by ur cpc treats,we are youths againt second slavery ur bombing can only end where your almajiri brodas are populated.ur warning us nigerians not support GEJ or risk been killed.we have seen u peoples manifesto support a fundamentalist or death, we've seen that by the way almajiris killed 5 people for not shouting sai BUHARI. And cars are burnt for not allowing them to peast BUHARI poster.But I tell u he will suffer massive defeat come april.