“For those who are on the scene, they should lay low on the ground, because bombs have shrapnel nails in them, and they fly upward.”
The Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, Alex Bardeh, on Thursday visited the scene of the Jos explosion as well as victims’ still receiving treatment at hospitals. He also provided safety tips to be followed when such explosions occur.
At the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Mr. Bardeh, while addressing journalists, called for the enforcement of the ban on street trading in the state to avoid high casualties when such incidents occur.
The Plateau State government had on Wednesday blamed street trading near the Terminus Market for the high casualty; saying most of the victims were street traders.
Mr. Bardeh, an Air Chief Marshall, advised that people should stay calm whenever a bomb explodes and desist from rushing to scene of blast.
“Whenever there is a bomb explosion, people should stay away,” he said. “For those who are on the scene, they should lay low on the ground, because bombs have shrapnel nails in them, and they fly upward.”
He added that “when you lay down on the floor for at least 30 minutes, it’s enough sacrifice for you to stay alive.”
Commenting on the general insecurity in Nigeria, Mr. Bardeh said “everyone should be vigilant as the North Eastern part of the country was becoming difficult for the insurgents to operate.”
He urged Nigerians to be patient as the fight against terrorism cannot be won in a day, but will surely be won.
He assured that security officials were working round the clock to end the insurgency.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had on Wednesday assured that the police would arrest culprits of the Tuesday bomb explosions.
The police chief gave the assurance at the premises of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, when he visited victims of the explosion.
“No government can tolerate this kind of situation anywhere. This is an unfortunate situation; we must get to the root of this. That is why Mr. President has sent me to here to assess the situation,” he said.
The twin explosions in Jos on Tuesday killed about 200 people, according to hospital sources and health officials; although public officials gave contrasting and lower figures as at Wednesday evening.
While the National Emergency Management Agency put the number of deaths as at Wednesday night at 122, the state government and the police claimed it was 75.
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