Jaji bombings: Top military officer among injured victims

BY FEMI ADI/KADUNA

A senior military officer, Air Commodore Alechenu Ekagbo has been confirmed to be among the victims of yesterday’s twin bomb blasts that hit Saint Andrew Protestant Military Church at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, amidst fears that the number of the dead had climbed to 20.

P.M.News learnt that the military officer , whose official residence is about 15 meters away from the scene of the bomb blasts is in critical condition at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

A close family member of the officer who spoke to P.M.News today said Ekagbo was at his Brigadier quarters, resting when the bomb that hit his house exploded.

According to him, Ekagbo who is also the Director of Air Services, Jaji fell into unconsciousness and was rushed to the hospital.

“We thought he was dead until we got the news this morning that he’s still alive but in critical condition,” the family source stated.

However, an army source who confirmed the involvement of the senior officer hinted that the military authority has concluded plans to fly him abroad for better medical attention.

” Any time from now , he would be flown abroad”. He said

Yesterday, the army spokesman said 11 people died in the twin blasts at the cantonment, with 30 people wounded.

It was suspected that the Boko Haram was behind the explosions, but the sect has not confirmed this.

The army authorities on Friday declared 19 leaders of the sect wanted and offered rewards of between N50m and N10m for information that could lead to their capture.