By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has reiterated its commitment to work with the Borno state government, the military, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other stakeholders to address the root cause of the recent resurgence of bomb attacks.
Recall that Vanguard exclusively reported that over 30 people died and more than 100 injured, but Police authority and other media outlets reported that only 18 people died and less than 30 injured, unfortunately, when the Vice -President Senator Kashim Shettima paid a similar visit on Monday at the hospital, he tagged the death toll to 32.
The Managing Director of the NEDC, Alhaji Goni Alkali disclosed this on Tuesday evening when he paid a sympathy visit to the victims of the recent multiple suicide attacks in Gwoza Council area who were at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri on treatment.
The MD said “We are here as a team to sympathize with the people of Gwoza over the recent bomb attacks, you know as a human being, when you hear such a thing it is heartbreaking, we have forgotten that such kind of thing will happen in such manner, but unfortunately all of a sudden it happened. In the first instance we want to go to Gwoza but the town was condoned off for a reason well known to all.
“We are here in Maiduguri where most of the victims are currently receiving treatment, we have seen it, we are talking with the state government and other stakeholders for us to collaborate and to find a comprehensive way of responding to the current or renewed challenges. You know it is a multidimensional problem.
“Besides, we have to find out what is the root cause of that thing happening that day. For instance it was a marriage ceremony and burial scene, these are all crowded places. Surely we are talking with the state government and other stakeholders, we are going to have a committee to see how best we can help the victims in a short moment and also find a lasting solution to the problem”. Goni said.
Meanwhile, the Medical Director of Maiduguri Specialist Hospital, Dr Shehu Mohammed who took the NEDC Boss round the victims said that 15 patients out of the 49 injured victims of Saturday Gwoza suicide bombings brought to the hospital have been treated and discharged.
Mohammed said that so far only two victims died, while the remaining were responding to treatment.
Mohammed said that the hospital had enough blood.
“So far, we don’t have much challenges. What we need for now are specialized volunteers like doctors, nurses, paramedics and cleaners as well as security to control crowd of relations trooping in,” Mohammed said.
