Some of the dead were burnt beyond recognition, while others were blown into pieces as only their severed parts were packed into bags by rescue workers. Over 40 vehicles were also destroyed.
The incident happened when the bus station which serves as a major terminus for commuters coming from satellite towns disembark before joining the high capacity luxury buses to the city centre.
Condemnations immediately greeted the gruesome incident just as survivours of the blast and eyewitnesses have been recounting their experiences.
Although Police Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, put the death toll at 71 and 124 injured, eye witnesses and hospital sources said that the dead were far more than the official figure.
An eyewitness who simply identified himself as Romanus said pieces of human flesh were flung to different parts of the motor park and beyond.
When Vanguard visited the scene of the blast, there were pools of fresh human blood which emitted a very strong smell. The explosion caused extensive damage at the park.
Charred remains of at least seven cars, as well as six buses were seen at the scene of the incident as a joint team of different security forces battled to evacuate the dead and injured.
How the bomb was planted
According to eye witnesses, a man drove a red Volkswagen space bus into the premises of the big capacity bus terminus popularly called El Rufai Buses and parked in front of two of the buses which were loaded with passengers and almost moving to the city centre.
Vanguard gathered that upon protest from drivers of the buses that he was obstructing their exit, the driver who allegedly came with four other passengers reportedly said he was going to get some lower denominations of money to settle his ‘passengers’.
It was learnt that just about five minutes after the driver and the passengers left the Volkswagen bus, it exploded, killing everyone near it.
The blast which left a large crater at the spot where the bus was parked also resulted in a huge fire which engulfed cars, the loaded and empty buses and all structures in the area.
At the scene of the blast, a pack of local delicacy, popularly called Okpa, whose owner was reportedly ripped into two was still intact, unaffected by the blast.
Piles of bags of intending passengers were scattered as far as over 30 metres. In the midst of concerted rescue efforts, mobile phones of some of the passengers who either died or sustained injuries from the blast were still heard ringing.
Vehicular Abuja-bombing1damages
16 large SURE-P buses, popularly called El-Rufai buses and 24 others were either burnt or destroyed from the effect of the blast.
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd);the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and all the service chiefs visited the scene of the incident.
Hospitals overwhelmed, call for blood
Hospitals across the capital city have sent out passionate appeals for voluntary blood donation from members of the public. They said that their blood banks were exhausted and that a large number of the injured had lost much blood and required transfusion.
The managements of the Asokoro Hospital and the National Hospital cried out that they had run out of blood and needed blood urgently to avoid losing those who suffered much blood loss in the incident.
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May their Soul rest in peace. Amen
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