Abuja Blast: Residents Now Live In Fear

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja now live in palpable fear following Monday’s early morning bomb blast  at Nyanya’s motor park in the outskirts of the FCT which claimed over 72 lives and injured about 164 others.
Most residents are of the view that the Federal Capital Territory is now unsafe for habitation if terrorists could storm the territory with such ease, unchallenged  and without any form of resistance from security operatives, whose headquarters and bigwigs are all domiciled there.
Although President Goodluck Jonathan visited the scene of the incident in company of the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police and other top government officials shortly after the blast occurred for on the spot assessment, during which he condemned the terrorist act, and assured the nation and Abuja residents in particular of his government’s commitment to the security of lives and property, residents still fear for their lives.
A survey of the capital city by The Tide 24-hours after the deafening blast shows that the incident is commonly discussed among residents with uncertainty  written all over them as to who may be the next to be hacked down by the Boko Haram insurgents, despite the fact that business activities still go on as usual
A resident, Mallam Bako Abdullahi, who lost his cousin, simply identified as Asalatu in the blast, told The Tide in tears that  she was on her way to her office and was at the Nyanya park – popularly referred to as ‘El-Rufai park’ when the bomb exploded and killed her instantly.
He added: ‘’ My sister is gone! Oh, Asalatu, why did you leave us so early in life? She was on 24 years! Government cannot protect us in this country, any body can be bombed by Boko Haram at any time; we are not safe, we fear for our lives in this Abuja’’.
Another resident and eye witness, Aminatu Mohammadu who narrowly escaped the blast, recounted her experience in an interview with The Tide yesterday at her Mararaba residence.
‘’ I was on my way to my shop at Nyanya market (opposite  the park).  As soon as I alighted from the bus I took from my bus stop to Nyanya bus stop and started walking to the market, the vehicle carrying the bomb passed but I didn’t know it was carrying bomb; then it went on into El-Rufai park and parked; the driver then opened the door and gently walked away – across the road towards our market as if he was going to buy something , Minutes later, the bomb exploded and I fell to the ground with minor bruises from particles of the bomb that hit me… Sincerely, I thank God for sparing my life but my family and I now live in fear’’.