By Cross Udo, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday paid a condolence visit to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the Gwoza area of Borno State suicide bombing attacks, describing the situation as a pathetic scene.
The Vice President in a swift response to the suicide bombings on Saturday, said about 32 deaths have been recorded and that out of the 42 injured persons brought in from Gwoza, about 14 of them have been discharged, while about 26 are currently receiving attention.
Quoting the late Dele Giwa, Senator Shettima said, “One life lost in cold blood is as gruesome as millions lost in cold blood.”
Speaking with journalists immediately after meeting and commiserating with victims of the attack at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, Vice President conveyed the condolences of President Bola Tinubu to the Borno State government and the people of Gwoza.
Senator Shettima, who made a personal donation to all the victims of the attacks and condoled with the families of those killed by the multiple explosions, said the heart of the President is with them.
According to him, “The heart of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is with the victims and he specifically instructed us to come and offer our condolences and commiserations to the victims of this incident.
“We are here with the Director General of NEMA, with the Minister of Agriculture, with the Minister of Transportation, and, of course, the Chief Whip of the Senate, a son of the soil from Gwoza, who was here since yesterday (Sunday), and the Acting Governor.
“They have been working round the clock to provide succor and support to the victims. It was a very pathetic scene. Our hearts go out to the victims. So far, we have recorded 32 deaths; 42 of those injured were brought in from Gwoza and about 14 have been discharged, while about 26 are currently receiving attention.
“I want to use this forum to most sincerely register our profound gratitude to the Borno State government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and ICRC for rising to the challenges of the times and giving their best in terms of support.”
While in Maiduguri, the Vice President also attended the funeral prayer for the late mother of former Borno Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hajiya Aisa, at the family residence of Late Galadima Modu Sheriff along Damboa Road.
The mother to the former Governor died in Abuja on Sunday at the age of 93 after a protracted illness.
In the VP’s entourage were the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur; Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; former Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda; the Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, and other top government officials.
*Black Monday for Kano, Kaduna as 25 die, 53 injured in road crash
Meanwhile, it was a black Monday for the people of Kano and Kaduna states as a road crash at the Dangwaro flyover along the popular Kano-Zaria Road claimed the lives of 25 persons, leaving 53 others injured.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, confirmed the tragic event which occurred at 3.30am.
A trailer with registration number KMC 311 ZB reportedly lost control due to overspeeding. The trailer with 90 individuals on board crashed, resulting in significant casualties and injuries.
Fortunately, 12 persons survived the accident.
FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said, “Preliminary investigations suggest that the probable cause of the crash was due to overspeeding and loss of control by the driver of the trailer.”
Rescue operations were promptly initiated by the FRSC in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other emergency response agencies.
Items recovered from the scene include six motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, animals (rams and goats), maize, and the sum of four thousand naira. The items are now in police custody.
“All victims of the road crash have been transported to the Murtala Specialist Hospital Kano for urgent medical attention,” the FRSC stated.
FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi, issued a stern warning to drivers and motorists.
“Transporting animals, goods, and human beings concurrently is an unsafe practice that not only endangers lives but also contravenes traffic regulations designed to ensure road safety,” he emphasised.
He sympathised with the families of the dead victims for the irreparable loss of their loved ones.
The FRSC urged all road users to adhere strictly to traffic laws and regulations to prevent tragedies on Nigerian roads.
