Suleja bombing: 2 victims testify, SSS to bring 6 more witnesses

Two victims of the 2011 Suleja bombing, Kayode Olatunji and Musa Audu, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the blast left them with “indelible” bodily harm.
Six persons, Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim, are standing trial for alleged multiple bombings and killings in Suleja and Madalla, both in Niger.
In his testimony, Olatunji, a 300 level student of University of Technology, Minna, said that he had gone to check his name on INEC ad hoc staff list when the explosion occurred.
He said the impact of the blast left him with multiple fracture and serious injuries to the nose, ear and eyes, adding that he underwent bone and flesh grafting on his legs.
Olatunji explained that the blast, which went off at about 5 p.m on April 8, 2011, caused enormous destruction to the lives of innocent people, saying “ I was stocked in the midst of dead bodies’’.
“When I recovered minutes after the explosion, I saw myself enmeshed in the blood of a woman blown open by the blast.
“We were taken to the General Hospital, Suleja, and left there without treatment for hours before we were later evacuated to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.
“Five specialists attended to me within the 10 months of stay in the hospital but my situation has not been fully addressed.
“I can neither see very well nor hear very well, just as I cannot walk without support from crutches; I have been limited seriously,’’ he said.
In his evidence, Audu, a teacher with Girls Secondary School, Suleja, said that he had gone to check the INEC ad hoc staff shortlist when he heard a “big bang’’.
Audu said he became unconscious as a result of the explosion, adding “I discovered the flesh of my legs was opened’’.
“I was lying with dead bodies, some of the bodies were dismembered and I began to cry for help.
“When help did not come, I used my buttocks with support from my hands to move away from the lifeless bodies.
“They had carried out bone and flesh grafting on my left leg and I cannot still walk without support,’’ he said.
Earlier, a computer forensic expert from the State Security Service (SSS) said he had investigated a cellphone confiscated from one of the suspects and found it to contain incriminating material.
“In that cellphone, pictures of assault rifles, military uniforms, some bomb elements and (information) on how to make bombs were found,’’ said the SSS official, simply identified as Reuben.
This aspect of the testimony was, however, challenged during cross examination as Mr Emeka Okoro, counsel to the suspects, claimed the cellphone could have been tempered with to support the case of the prosecution.
Justice Bilkisu Aliyu adjourned the matter to Dec. 5 for further hearing.