No fewer than 18 people were feared dead and 48 injured when a suicide bomber attacked the United Nations office in Abuja on Friday. The attacker,reportedly drove through the exit and pulled down the first and second gates and entered the compound.
According to a source, the attacker immediately alighted from a Honda Accord car and went straight to the reception of the office, where he detonated the bomb which rocked the building with some part collapsing.
The source revealed that the attack, which occurred at about 10.30am took everyone by surprise, while all thewindows in the office were shattered with casualties lying all over the place.
The staff strength of the building was put at 1,000, while policemen who are in the premisesare not allowed to carry arms, according to U.N standards.
Only security guards in uniforms man the main gate of the office, whilejust one gate is the onlyentry and exit entrance into the premises, as the exit gate was permanently locked as part of security measures.
All security agencies: the Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Brigade of Guards Commander, Fire Service, were at the premises to evacuate the corpses and the injured ones.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who was on his way from Kaduna onan official assignment, drove straight to the UNoffice to access the situation on ground.
The injured victims were all moved to the National Hospital, wherethe management of thehospital appealled to Nigerians to come forward and donate blood.
The area was immediately cordoned off by the military and the police, while people who trooped into the scene were chased away.
Briefing newsmen later at the scene, the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr.Mike Zuokumor, said only 18 people died and 18 injured, but added that the actual figure would be announced later.
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