Fifty-four days after the bomb blast at the United Nations House, Abuja, that killed 23 members of staff of the world body, one more victim of the incident, Mr. Sunday Nwachukwu, has lost the battle to stay alive.
The UN in a statement said Nwachukwu, an employee of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), died on October 9 in South Africa where he was flown in an air ambulance following the critical state of his health as a result of injuries he sustained from the blast.
The organisation said it was “deeply saddened by the death of one more person as a result of the attack on the UN House in Abuja on Friday, August 26, 2011. Mr. Sunday Nwachukwu, a staff of the UNDP, passed on in South Africa on Sunday, 9 October.
The death toll from the bomb blast now stands at 24: 12 UN staff and 12 non-UN staff”.
Nwachukwu was one of the first 12 critically injured UN staff members on life support systems who were evacuated to South Africa on air ambulances in August.
The world body also said in the statement that the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, who had commiserated with the family of the victim, described the late Nwachukwu as “a hard working colleague and a friendly brother”.
The world body also said in the statement that: “The United Nations Country Team in Nigeria (UNCT) once again presents its deepest condolences to the families of victims, and reiterates its gratitude to the authorities and people of Nigeria and other partners for their active support.
“The devastating attack has taken the lives of our colleagues and partners and maimed many people all of whom were in the building in the pursuit of service to others.”
The UN in a statement said Nwachukwu, an employee of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), died on October 9 in South Africa where he was flown in an air ambulance following the critical state of his health as a result of injuries he sustained from the blast.
The organisation said it was “deeply saddened by the death of one more person as a result of the attack on the UN House in Abuja on Friday, August 26, 2011. Mr. Sunday Nwachukwu, a staff of the UNDP, passed on in South Africa on Sunday, 9 October.
The death toll from the bomb blast now stands at 24: 12 UN staff and 12 non-UN staff”.
Nwachukwu was one of the first 12 critically injured UN staff members on life support systems who were evacuated to South Africa on air ambulances in August.
The world body also said in the statement that the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, who had commiserated with the family of the victim, described the late Nwachukwu as “a hard working colleague and a friendly brother”.
The world body also said in the statement that: “The United Nations Country Team in Nigeria (UNCT) once again presents its deepest condolences to the families of victims, and reiterates its gratitude to the authorities and people of Nigeria and other partners for their active support.
“The devastating attack has taken the lives of our colleagues and partners and maimed many people all of whom were in the building in the pursuit of service to others.”
“Their sacrifice will not be in vain; we will strive to pursue our work, the work for the people of Nigeria as prescribed in the UN Charter, which says ‘we the people’,” Toure added.
He reaffirmed that the UN System in Nigeria, composed of various agencies and organisations, would continue on its mission to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms.
The UN programme delivery also continues to focus on job creation, poverty alleviation, democratic governance and reproductive and maternal health for all, the organisation further said.
The four-storey building housing the various offices and departments of the UN was rocked by bomb blast allegedly carried out by a suspected suicide bomber.
The blast occurred around 10.30am, leaving 23 people dead and several others seriously injured. The building was also seriously damaged.
On September 18, the State Security Service (SSS) unveiled videos purporting to show members of Boko Haram preparing for suicide attacks, including the image of a young man, Mohammed AbulBarra, said to be responsible for the bombing of the UN House.
He reaffirmed that the UN System in Nigeria, composed of various agencies and organisations, would continue on its mission to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms.
The UN programme delivery also continues to focus on job creation, poverty alleviation, democratic governance and reproductive and maternal health for all, the organisation further said.
The four-storey building housing the various offices and departments of the UN was rocked by bomb blast allegedly carried out by a suspected suicide bomber.
The blast occurred around 10.30am, leaving 23 people dead and several others seriously injured. The building was also seriously damaged.
On September 18, the State Security Service (SSS) unveiled videos purporting to show members of Boko Haram preparing for suicide attacks, including the image of a young man, Mohammed AbulBarra, said to be responsible for the bombing of the UN House.
The SSS also declared one Mamman Nur wanted for allegedly masterminding the bombing. The service also placed a bounty of N25 million on his head.
The videos obtained by AFP were said to be from Boko Haram and came as concern intensified over whether it has formed links with outside groups such as Al-Qaeda’s North African branch.
The two videos said to be from the group include speeches totalling some 25 minutes from the alleged UN bomber.
In a frantic effort to get to the root of the bombing, the SSS had arraigned four suspects said to be the perpetrators of the blasts before an Abuja Magistrate Court.
The two videos said to be from the group include speeches totalling some 25 minutes from the alleged UN bomber.
In a frantic effort to get to the root of the bombing, the SSS had arraigned four suspects said to be the perpetrators of the blasts before an Abuja Magistrate Court.
According to court documents, they “conspired and sent a suicide bomber in a CRV car ... into the United Nations House in Abuja on August 26, 2011”.
The four suspects were among the 19 suspects arraigned before the magistrate court for planting explosives in different places within Abuja
The four suspects were among the 19 suspects arraigned before the magistrate court for planting explosives in different places within Abuja
culled from thisday
No comments:
Post a Comment