Days after multiple bomb blasts exploded in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, killing many and leaving scores with injury, survivors and family members of victims have continued to speak about their pain, anguish and loss caused by the incident.

Malam Ibrahim Goni Badama, an Islamic schoolteacher in Gwange Ward, Maiduguri, is in grief. He said he lost four of his pupils in the bomb blasts that rocked the Borno State capital on Monday evening.

Suicide bombers detonated explosives near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) gate, Post Office flyover and Monday Market junction. The triple explosions killed 23 people including Malam Badama’s four students, and injured 108 others, according to the casualty figures released by the police.

Badama said his grief is further exacerbated by his closeness to the deceased pupils as well as all others under his tutelage.

“They were here in this classroom an hour and half before the incident that took their lives,” he revealed as he led the reporter into the classroom located on Sabon Layi Street, Gwange.

“What happened last Monday is sad.” Badama said as he sauntered on a long mat to recount the story of the painful death of the four pupils whose bodies were shattered by the explosion.

According to him, the four students and their other colleagues left the Islamic school around 5:30pm to get food for Iftar (sunset meal for breaking the Ramadan fast).

He said some of the pupils had moved towards Costain, opposite the University hospital and even crossed over to the area near the hospital gate. Sadly, a suicide bomber attempting to force his way into the hospital but who was blocked by vigilant security men suddenly detonated explosives that killed nearly a dozen people, including four of Badama students.

“They are victims of a tragic fate. Nobody can question Allah,” he said in a very low tone. He lowered his head, gazed at the mat for a few seconds. “This is where they all stayed and played,” he said. A loud silence followed. He appeared moody and emotional. His assistant, Malam Musa disclosed that one of the pupils, who was also injured in the blasts, brought the report of the death of the four others.

The bodies of the deceased pupils – Laminu, 12, Abba, 13, Musa, 11 and Mahmoud, 13, were committed to mother earth on Tuesday by his teacher, colleagues and friends. The mood at the Islamic school on Thursday evening was dull. It was the third day Islamic prayer for the departed soul.

Hospital visitor turns patient

Caleb Jonah, 30, was heading to the UMTH on the fateful day to visit a relation on admission. But he ended up as a patient in the same hospital.

“I was going to the hospital to visit an inpatient but ran into the explosion scene,” he disclosed. He however, thanked God that he survived the blast despite the injuries he sustained.

Hospital authorities conformed 52 patients were receiving treatment at the UMTH as at Thursday night. Head of the Trauma Centre in the hospital, Dr Bukar Bunu said additional six people died, bringing the number of casualties to 28.

Gov Zulum reacts

Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum in a statewide broadcast, described the incident as deeply concerning. Zulum who returned to the state after performing the Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, said the intensity of military operations forced the terrorists to launch coordinated attacks on many locations in the state recently. He said the state government has worked tirelessly to restore peace

“However the security is under control,” he assured, calling on the people to support the military.

He later visited injured persons at the UMTH and General Hospital where he expressed his sympathy to the affected person.

“It’s sad,” he said even as he expressed the hope such an incident would not occur again. (The Sun)

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