Survivors of yesterday’s bomb blast at a branch of a first generation bank in Azare town, Bauchi State have revealed that a female suicide bomber, dressed in long flowing garments, who had queued up with them while they were waiting to make cash withdrawals from the bank, allegedly detonated the bomb which killed about 20 people and injured over 37 people, mainly civil servants.
The bank building where the bomb explosion occurred had all its glass windows shattered just as all banks in the town suspended operations and hurriedly closed following the incident.
According to witnesses and survivors, the bomb explosion occurred at about 10am yesterday, while they were in the bank premises. Two women were said to be among those who died.
A resident of Azare town who craved anonymity, said most of the victims were civil servants from within Azare and others from Shira and Giade, who were in the bank to withdraw their salaries.
A staff of the bank who spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend on condition of anonymity, said the female suicide bomber joined other unsuspecting customers on the queue and it was while she was in their midst that the bomb exploded. He said he counted 20 dead bodies, including that of the bomber; whose body he said was divided into two.
According to him, the suicide bomber’s head was found across the road, near a suya spot.
He also disclosed that among those who died was a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who was in the bank to make withdrawals.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend from his bed at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, a student of the College of Education Azare, Sunday Samaila, said he was at the bank to withdraw money from the bank’s ATM when the explosion occurred.
“I was in the bank to make withdrawals when the blast occurred. We were on the queue waiting to withdraw money from the ATM, when the attack occurred. I just heard a loud sound of an explosion but did not know precisely what happened. I had not even made the withdrawal,” he said.
A driver from Dambam, Abdullahi Suleiman, 25, also told LEADERSHIP Weekend that he had gone to the bank to withdraw cash from the ATM when the explosion occurred.
“I came to the bank to withdraw money and then joined the queue with others standing by the ATM in front of the bank. Minutes after I joined the queue, I heard a loud explosion and there was commotion and confusion everywhere. I was flung by the force of the blast and landed heavily against a wall. I saw blood all over my body; I was confused and did not know what to do until help came and we were evacuated to the hospital here,” he narrated.
He lamented that despite the hardship Nigerians especially those in the northern part of the country were going through as a result of insecurity, there appeared to be no end in sight as the government seemed to be overwhelmed.
“I went to the bank in company of my cousin to withdraw money and when we got there, there was a long queue of customers waiting to carryout transactions. I was given number 200 and as we were waiting, the explosion suddenly occurred,” another survivor, Kabiru Aminu, told LEADERSHIP Weekend.
Meanwhile, the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, told LEADERSHIP Weekend at the hospital that 14 dead bodies and 37 injured persons were brought to the hospital, including a little girl of about two-years-old who was also injured.
He said 16 of the victims were still on admission while others with more severe injuries had been referred to Malam Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital.
Confirming the incident yesterday, spokesman of the state police command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, however said only seven persons died while another 10 were injured in the attack.
He further stated that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident and they were assisting the police with useful information that could aid arrest.
According to Mohammed, “on 7/11/2014 at about 10:05hrs,there was a bomb explosion suspected to be carried out by a female suicide bomber at First Bank premises in Azare Town, Bauchi State.
“So far, seven persons have been confirmed dead while 10 others who sustained various degrees of injury have been taken to Federal Medical Center, Azare, for medical attention, out of which five were treated and discharged.”
Mohammed added that the entire surrounding areas had been cordoned off and swept by the police explosive ordinance disposal unit.
Meanwhile, residents of the bubbly town were in a sober mood yesterday, just as commercial activities were at low ebb when our correspondent visited some popular business spots in the town.
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