Last night’s devastating bomb blast in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, happened despite the presence of security men, it has been revealed. The explosion took place near a police checkpoint and opposite the bus station bombed by Boko Haram in the morning of April 14, officially killing 75 people and injuring over 200.

Eye witnesses said the suspected bomber of last night packed a white Volkswagen Golf car in the vicinity of Wazobia Park around 8pm and walked away, shortly after which the bomb went off, meaning that the car had been rigged with explosives.

“There were policemen around when this explosion happened and they didn’t manage to stop it,” lamented Charles Osueke, who was in the area at the time of the blast.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put the death toll at 19 and 60 injured but eyewitnesses said they counted up to 40 bodies.

Those injured in the blast, which took place about 50 metres from the scene of the April 14 bombing, are being treated at the National Hospital as well as at the General Hospitals at Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse and Gwarimpa.

The bombing soured the happy mood occasioned by the Workers’ day celebration, which saw President Goodluck Jonathan laughing heartily and cracking jokes with labour leaders.

•Photo courtesy of NEMA shows rescue workers at work after last night’s Nyanya bombing.