EMAB Blast: Plaza Still Barricaded As Traders Fret Over Reopening

Since the Wednesday bomb blast at EMAB Plaza in Wuse II, Abuja, the neighbouring plazas like Banex Plaza 1 and 2 are still barricaded and the shops still under lock and key while traders worry over reopening of the plaza. LEADERSHIP Sunday discovered that the spot where the bomb exploded was also cordoned off with red and yellow ribbon with inscription like “Crime Scene, Do Not Cross” while the remaining trash was yet to be cleared as at yesterday evening. It took the combined efforts of security operatives from the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps who were on ground to ensure that the traders complied with the “no entry” directive. Meanwhile, a few traders were still seen at the crime scene trying to collect either vital documents or important goods from their shops but not without obtaining permission and accompanied by a policeman to their respective shops. It was also discovered that the cars at the premises of EMAB Plaza at the time of the explosion were yet to be reclaimed by the owners, though a good number of them were in good conditions. Sherrif Plaza, which is adjacent to Banex and Emab plazas, was not barricaded. A few fruit and recharge-card hawkers were still seen running after vehicles to sell their wares. A cross-section of traders that spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday eulogized the efforts of security operatives deployed to monitor the scene even as they called on the federal government to enlist more Nigerians into the military and other paramilitary organizations. Chief Stephen Ogbonna, who is the chief security officer at EMAB Plaza, is a property agent that also sells communication and security gadgets. He applauded the efforts of the DPO of Maitama and the security operatives guarding the plaza, saying that traders were complying with the directive: “There is no problem now because the traders are cooperating with policemen. We are very grateful to the DPO of Maitama who though a woman works like a man and we also appreciate the security operatives for guarding the area. The traders have no problem because they have been hearing of explosives but this one that happened is an eye opener; so they are very vigilant now.” On plans by the owner of EMAB to compensate the victims, he said, “The owner of the plaza is a very good man and we have no problem with him. Anytime he comes, things will be better than it used to be.” Chief Ogbonna further admitted that he escaped death by a whisker, stressing that the relatives of his two burnt security boys have claimed their corpses. “I escaped death by a whisker because I was about to climb down from the stair-case when the bomb suddenly exploded. “For the casualties, the relatives of the dead are coming one after the other to claim their corpses. Two of my security boys were burnt and scattered beyond recognition; their families have come around to claim their corpses.” Another trader who pleaded anonymity was seen weeping at the plaza when he came to pick up his vital documents. He said that one his boys received serious injury at the skull, though he was responding to treatment. Another trader that sells communication gadgets admitted that he escaped death through divine intervention, saying that he was at EMAB garden when the incident occurred. “God really saved me and I will forever remain grateful to him. When I came to work that Wednesday, I was about to enter the complex but a voice just told me to relax at EMAB garden for a few minutes. I was at the garden chilling only for me to hear the sound of a bomb. It was a terrible situation because human parts littered the ground like trash. Another trader who simply identified himself as Goodluck sells communication gadgets at Sheriff Plaza. While sharing his grief over the dead and injured victims, he lamented that since the incident business activities had reduced drastically.