How I escaped Jos blasts – Onazi

Ogenyi Onazi says he feels fortunate to be alive after he narrowly avoided last week’s bombings in the city of Jos.

The blasts at a crowded bus terminal and market killed at least 118 people.

Onazi, 21, who was born in Jos, had just left the popular Jos Main Market last Tuesday, when the first blast rocked the area.

The midfielder, who plays for Italian Serie A side Lazio, said: “I am very, very lucky, just by the grace of God.”

Onazi is now with the Super Eagles squad in London as they prepare for today’s friendly against Scotland and he says he has been struggling to erase the memories of that dark day.

Recounting his lucky escape, he told BBC Sport: “It was just like an ordinary day. Happy faces and friendly warmth that makes you feel happy to be back home.

“We had gone to the railway market to get something. I think it was 15 minutes later when we heard the loud blast from the place. And suddenly, people were just running.

“There was chaos and pandemonium. There was smoke, I was confused, lost and just wondered what had happened. I had no idea what was going on and it was scary.

“All my life I have never heard a bang or boom like that.”

The second blast killed some of the rescue workers who had rushed to the scene, which was obscured by billows of black smoke.

A week later, far away from the city where his parents are based and preparing for his first World Cup with the Super Eagles, Onazi insists the unrest back home has made it difficult to focus on football.

“Some will say I should be happy to be alive but I just feel concerned about the security challenges in Jos and Nigeria as a country,” he said.

“I was born and bred in a peaceful Jos. I may be fortunate enough to live outside the place right now, but I still have my family and friends who live in the city.

“I always get worried when there are reports of terrible incidents there on a regular basis. It’s sad and depressing to live with this.

“Personally, I think there is a need for a holistic approach to solving this problem once and for all.

“Innocent people are dying and the government seriously needs to step up security across the country.”

Another blast happened in Jos days after that incident, in an explosion that targeted football fans watching the European Champions League final, the authorities said.

At least three people died and three others were injured in the blast, according to Chris Olakpe, the commissioner of police for Plateau state.

How I escaped Jos blasts – Onazi

We ate together the same day he died in Jos bomb blast - Students mourning schoolmates

“Mike was the Bible Study Secretary of the fellowship, we were also roommates. He was a committed and devoted Christian and very jovial. He did most of the cooking and often made fun of me whenever I chose to cook. On the day of the incident, we ate together before we parted ways for classes. He was good friend and close brother. Mike could go anywhere for the things of God.”

Those were the words of Opeyemi Ogunjemilehin, a student of the University of Jos, mourning the loss of one of their colleagues, Micheal Ogbote, who was among those killed in the twin bomb explosions that rocked the Terminus Market, Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday.

Students of the university, especially those in the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, will not forget the devastating effect of that bomb explosion in a hurry. It left many people in agony and claimed the lives of seven final year students of the same department.

Since Tuesday, the department has been in a state of mourning and academic activities paralyzed. Representatives of the department and other students have been moving from one hospital to another in search of their classmates allegedly caught up in the blast.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the seven students –identified as Micheal Ogbote, Francisca Nwafor, Lydia Komolafe, Dolapo, Milly Yusuf, Doris Gegunem and Vivian Chiamaka – where members of the same class and had just finished lecture and were heading back to their hostel when the bomb exploded about 2:30 p.m.

Many of the students are yet to come to terms with the reality of losing their colleagues. A cross section of them who spoke with Saturday Tribune were still dazed and wore mournful looks.

The President, Association of Laboratory Medical Science Students of the university, who is also a classmate of the deceased, Mensah Bulus, described the incident as horrible.

He said he was with the seven of them shortly before the bomb blast.

“Before the incident, we were all in a class and shortly after the lecture, everybody filed out and the seven of them that died went towards the same direction. I overheard them discussing the lecture of the day as they walked along towards the scene of the incident,” he said.

“The report I got indicated that two of our classmates walked passed them and few seconds after, there was a bang of explosion and those within the vicinity scampered for safety,” Bulus added.

According to him, the two students who had walked ahead of the seven were lucky to escape the blast, and they later started calling the seven they left behind to know if they had also escaped but could not connect. They then raised the alarm.

“Since then, we have been searching for them. The situation is horrible. We missed seven of our students from 500 Level class; but for now, two of them have been identified. Five are still missing. Up till now, we did not know if the five were among those burnt beyond recognition,” Bulus said further.

Saturday Tribune gathered that three of the students – Micheal Ogbole, Vivian Obialor and Lydia Komolafe – were members of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship, University of Jos. Virtually all the members of the fellowship joined the search team until the corpses of two of the seven (Michael and Francesca) were identified at the Jos University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

The President of the fellowship, Opeyemi Ogunjemilehin, said the three members involved in the disaster were staunch members of the fellowship, as well as good friends and close confidants.

“Mike was the Bible Study Secretary of the fellowship. We were also roommates. He was a committed and devoted Christian and very jovial. He did most of the cooking and often made fun of me whenever I chose to cook. On the day of the incident, we ate together before we parted ways for classes. He was a good friend and close brother. Mike could go anywhere for the things of God,” Ogunjemilehin said.

“Vivian was the Financial Secretary of the fellowship while Lydia was part of the decoration team. I remember vividly the role all of them played when the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, visited the University of Jos in May this year. Mike was part of protocol while the other two sisters were in charge of decoration. The fellowship will miss the three of them.”

Tosin Ajani is a 500 Level student of the department and friend to the seven of them that lost their lives in the explosion. She is still stunned by the death of her friends.

While speaking with Saturday Tribune, Tosin shed tears and refused to be consoled. She was said to have been very close to the seven students that died in the unfortunate incident.

“We started this course together and had been together for the past four years. It is unfortunate that I am going to miss them this way. Before the incident on Tuesday, we were together in the class joking with one another as usual, without knowing that that was the last time I would see them,” she said

Saturday Tribune gathered that apart from the two of the deceased whose bodies were identified, there are indications that the remaining five might have been burnt.

 

Copyright Nigerian Tribune

We ate together the same day he died in Jos bomb blast - Students mourning schoolmates

U.S., UK condemn Jos explosion

The United States and Britain yesterday condemned the “vicious” bombing in Jos as well as a series of “terrorist acts” on defenceless civilians.

“The US government strongly condemns the multiple bomb blasts in the city of Jos yesterday, as well as the bombing in the Sabon-Gari neighborhood of the city of Kano on May 18 that have resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement, adding that the attacks were “unconscionable, terrorist acts demanding accountability and justice”.

In another statement by the US Embassy in Abuja, the US noted that the attacks demonstrated the criminality of the perpetrators who continue to target defenceless civilians.

The statement reads: “The U.S Embassy in Abuja strongly condemns the multiple bomb blasts in the city of Jos on May 20, as well as the bombing in the Sabon-Gari neighborhood of the city of Kano on May 18.  These vicious attacks on Nigerian civilians and the abduction last month of more than 200 girls in Chibok are unconscionable acts and starkly demonstrate the criminality of the perpetrators who continue to target defenseless civilians.

“We have seen reports that tensions are high in Jos, and we join the voices of those who are appealing for calm.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

“The United States met last weekend in Paris with Nigerian authorities as well as our partners and allies to discuss the way forward on confronting the regional security threat Boko Haram poses to Nigeria and West Africa.

“Countries agreed to work together to establish a regional counterterrorism strategy, strengthen regional cooperation, including with respect to intelligence sharing and border security, and mobilize support for sanctions against Boko Haram at the United Nations.

“The search for the missing school girls of Chibok is ongoing.  The Nigerians are in the lead.  We’re continuing to lend our unique assets and capabilities to assist in the search.

“We continue to stand with the Nigerian government and people as they grapple with violent extremism.”

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I condemn this cowardly, inhumane crime. My thoughts are with those who have been bereaved or injured.

“This attack on the market was a transparent effort to create tension between different groups in a city well known for its diversity where people of different ethnicities and religions live alongside each other. It has resulted in death and tragedy for both Christians and Muslims alike.

“I welcome the restraint shown by the population in the face of this provocation and reiterate the United Kingdom’s continued support to the people of Nigeria.

“Last weekend in Paris the international community and regional leaders made clear their collective determination to support Nigeria and defeat the scourge of terrorism. The Jos attack has only strengthened our resolve.”

U.S., UK condemn Jos explosion

More photos from Jos twin bomb blast

More photos from Jos twin bomb blast