Bomb blast at INEC offices in Suleja – many casualties

IWPR Nigeria

Saturday, 9 April, 2011

Bomb blast at INEC offices in Suleja – many casualties

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A bomb blast at INEC’s offices in Suleja, in Niger State on the eve of polling for the National Assembly, has caused a number of deaths and serious injuries.

The blast happened at around 5.30 on Friday when the office was full of staff, party supporters and others preparing for today’s polling.

The Chairman of INEC, Professor Atthairu Jega, said there had been injuries and fatalities among permanent and ad hoc INEC staff, most of whom come from the National Youth Service Corps.

He said that the attack had been intended to “stir fear and paralyse the aspirations for peaceful and credible elections”

Reports of numbers killed have varies between six and more than 20. Suleja hospital was reported to be unable to cope with all the casualties, some of whom had to be transferred to hospitals nearby.

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