ABUJA HOUSE BOMBING: UN releases names of victims

FINALLY, the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday in Abuja released the names of 11 of its staff and 10 out of the 12 non-UN staff who lost their lives in the August 26 suicide bombing of the world body’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
It said it could not identify two out of the 12 dead non-UN staff.
The list of 21 identified dead bodies released by UN’s country coordinator, Mr Dauoda Toure, comprised 14 males and seven females.
Mr Toure, who confirmed that 23 persons died during the bomb blast, noted that the UN would never forget the victims as individuals and the passion, commitment and courage with which they proudly served the mission and the ideals of the UN.

The dead 11 UN staff members and their designations, according to the UN coordinator, inclu-ded Ms Rahmat Abdullahi (Registry Clerk, UNDP); Mr Musa Ali (Zonal Logistics Assistant for the North-West Zone, WHO); Mr Johnson Awotunde (Monitoring and Evalu-ation Specialist, UNICEF); Dr Edward Dede (National Professional Officer, WHO) and Mr  Elisha Enabure-khan (Driver, UNAIDS).

Others were Mr Ahmed Abiodun Adewale-Kareem (Shipping Assist-ant, UNICEF); Mr Iliya David Musa (Receptionist, UN Common Services, UNDP); Mr Ingrid Midt-gaard (Associate Expert, UNODC); Mrs Felicia Nkwuokwu (Receptionist, UN Common Services, UNDP); Mr Stephen Oba-moh (ERT Radio Operator, UNDP) and Mr Abraham Osunsaya (Administrative Assistant, WHO).

The 10 identified dead non-UN staff included Mr Sunday James Ebere (Shi-pping Agent, Balast Agency); Mr Ndubisi Bright (Hospitality Industry Consults); Mr Paul Waziri (Nigeria Cleaning Services) and Ms Kate Demehin (Federal Ministry of Health).

Others were Ms Caroline Michael (Guard); Mr Sunday Omelenyi (Guard); Mr Yakubu Garuba (Guard); Mr Abio-dun Adeseye (Julius Berger); Ms Patricia Ekwe-ringe (Travel Agent) and Ms Joy Audu (Nigeria Cleaning Services).

A breakdown showed that 116 people, who were injured in the blast, were receiving medical treat-ment, 64 of them are UN staff, 36 non-UN staff, with 16 persons yet to be identified.

Among the injured, 17 were seriously injured victims, including 12 UN and five non-UN staff, who had been evacuated to South Africa for specialist treatment.

The conditions of those evacuated to South Africa were said to have improved.

Mr Toure, while briefing journalists, lamented that the victims lost their lives contributing to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

“We will never forget them as individuals. Nor shall we forget the passion, commitment and courage with which they proudly served the mission and ideals of the United Nations.

“We are also aware that one victim who was at the UN House has been privately evacuated to the United Kingdom. The UN, in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has also facilitated the travelling of accompanying family members of the evacuated persons to South Africa.

 

Source: Nigerian Tribune