Jos Multiple bomb blasts kills many

 From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja‎, Mariam Aleshinloye Agboola, Jos Multiple bomb blasts rocked Jos, Plateau State, yesterday, claiming at least 46 lives and 45 injured. The State Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, confirmed the casualty figures. Two of the  blasts occurred on Murtala Muhammed Way, close to the old site of the University of Jos.
The first blast which happened around 3pm sent vibration which shook most buildings around the vicinity, while the second was heard about 26 minutes later.
Details of the blasts were still sketchy yesterday, but Daily Sun gathered that a vehicle laden with explosives had packed in the area, turned to a makeshift market since the Jos Main market was burnt several years ago.
Immediately, thick smoke was seen bellowing from the scene and this could be sighted many kilometers away.


Fire fighters, men  of Special Task Force  and ambulances rushed to the scene  and  took control preventing the fire from spreading to other areas. Two bodies of men and two fat women  were seen roasted and three  bodies were seen being carried in a wheel barrow. Chunks of human flesh were seen littering the area and some could be sighted as far as Ahmadu Bello Way.
Many items of property were destroyed and the fire   was assisted by the second hand clothings spread on the ground and in the stalls thereby  sending dark smoke noticeable in almost every part of Jos.
An eyewitness said just when the first blast was being put under control, another blast was heard 26 minutes later, very close to the scene  of the first blast.
The injured were rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
The blasts made people to lock offices and shops, while parents whose wards were still in school hurried to pick them up
Windsceens of vehicles were broken and other minor accidents recorded  as people rushed  home immediately after the bomb blast.
President Goodluck Jonathan condemned in strong terms the bomb blasts, describing the perpetrators as cruel and evil.
He reiterated that his administration would not be cowed by what he called “the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilization.”
The President while directing  all relevant agencies to mobilise support and relief efforts in aid of the victims, disclosed that his administration would rebuild the Chibok School and fortify security in schools.
Jonathan ordered the intensification of on-going relief assistance programmes by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in partnership with donor
Agencies to all affected ‎local government areas and communities.
He said his administration was committed to the implementation of the resolutions reached by the Paris Regional Security meeting on Boko haram hosted by French President Francois Hollande at Elysee Palace, in addition to ‎existing measures already being taken to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of life.
The President disclosed that Nigeria and the  Heads of State of neighbouring countries , President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad,  President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, have agreed to each contribute one battalion of troops to the international force set up to patrol the border areas, in line with the Resolution of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
He said France, United States of America and the United Kingdom will extend technical assistance to achieve this objective.
Addressing State House Correspondents, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “‎President Goodluck  Jonathan strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau state, today (yesterday), describing the perpetrators of this tragic assault on human freedom as cruel and evil.  He has also directed all relevant agencies to mobilise support and relief efforts in aid of the victims. The President extends his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and persons.