The blast, suspected to have been carried out by the Boko Haram, Nigeria’s own terrorist group, occurred as a bomb laden automobile rammed through the back entrance into the printing press section of the office complex before exploding and destroying everything in sight within in the press section.
Adjourning buildings around the expansive premises were equally affected by the blast.
Following a recent threat by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to attack media houses over the negative publications the sect had been receiving, Management of ThisDay had barred staff and visitors alike from accessing the office complex from the main entrance and had resorted to the use of the back entrance.
The bomb laden automobile which is yet to be identified was said to have driven fast through a Mechanic workshop close to the back entrance and knocked down the securely locked gates and forcefully gained entrance before ramming unto the printing press section where the bomb exploded.
Burnt and smoking flesh belonging to apprentices working at the Mechanic workshop were being collected by officials of Civil Defence and Security Corp, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other security officials.
The United States of America Embassy recently attracted knocks from the Federal Government over series of warnings to it’s nationals to avoid Abuja hotels which their intelligence reports indicated would be attacked by the terrorist group.
Security and medical personnel at work at the blast site refused to release any figure of casualties saying they have to complete their assignment to ascertain the level of casualties recorded in the blast.
In the other blast in the northern city of Kaduna, 10 persons were said to have lost their lives. The blast also affected The Sun newspaper, which shares the office with Thisday.
Culled from PM News
