TERRORISM: This Time Abuja Nigeria's Capital Gets Hit

More than 200 people are feared dead in an explosion which rocked an outskirts of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, this morning.
The explosion sounded in a highly populated motor park in Nyanya, less than five minutes drive from the Abuja city Centre.
It is not clear yet how the bomb was ferried into the park, but witnesses suspect it was planted by a suicide bomber.
Several dead bodies now litter the blood spattered park and the expressway leading to the city.

Some of the dead victims and the injured are being taken to hospital by ambulances and vans belonging to the police, the Vehicle Inspection Office, Federal Road Safety Commission, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the National Emergency Management Agency.
Our reporter counted more than 50 bodies that were yet to be evacuated. But witnesses said more than 150 bodies may have been moved before our reporter’s arrival.
Some of the bodies are mangled beyond recognition.

Several vehicles, including about 12 government-owned high capacity buses operated by the Abuja Mass Transit Company Limited, were destroyed in the attack.
Some of the buses were said to be loaded with passengers when the explosion occurred.

Some of the images we have are too offensive. We are unable to post them here.

    President Jonathan saddened by loss of lives in Nyanya bombing.

    — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) April 14, 2014

    President Jonathan has ordered heightened security in Abuja following Nyanya bombing.

    — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) April 14, 2014

    The multiple explosions at Nyanya bus park this morning is a terrible tragedy. No life is worth ending this way.

    — Ali Modu Sheriff (@AliModuSheriff) April 14, 2014

    We have to be more committed to dealing with our security challenges. Incidents like these should never be allowed to happen.

    — Ali Modu Sheriff (@AliModuSheriff) April 14, 2014

Live updates

11.03

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and interior Minister Abba Moro have visited the scene of the blast.

President Goodluck Jonathan is also expected to make appearance at the scene. But security agencies are fighting hard to keep a surging crowd away from the scene, as more evidence is collected.

10.58

Jonathan orders increased security in Nigerian capital

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered that the security in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, be increased following an early Monday morning explosion in Nyanya, a suburb of the capital city.

In a tweet by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the president said he is saddened by the loss of lives from the explosion. He extended his condolence to the families of the bereaved.

Mr. Abati, through his twitter handle, @abati1990, also said that the president has directed medical personnel around the city to do their best to save lives of those injured in the explosion.

Over 200 people are feared killed in an explosion that rocked a popular motor park in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. The explosion occurred at about 6:30 a.m. and most of the victims are believed to be passengers going to the city centre to resume work on Monday.

Security and emergency operatives arrived early to evacuate the corpses and take the injured to hospitals.

The emergency agency, NEMA, says it cannot give an official casualty figure yet.

09.19

Police investigators now collecting evidence from the scene as last batch of bodies are cleared.

09.06

Ambulances and security vans are still making repeated trips from the the scene of the blast to Asokoro hospital, ferrying both victims and bodies.

Details later.