PUNCH TODAY

 SORROW, TEARS AS ABUJA BLAST KILLS 89

A bomb attack by suspected Boko Haram members on a crowded motor park in Nyanya on Monday threw the Federal Capital Territory    into confusion.

Although security agencies put the number of the dead and the injured at 71 and 124 respectively, independent findings by our correspondents showed that at least 89 people, including three bombers died.

Two hundred and fifty seven others sustained various degrees of injury.

It was gathered that five luxury buses in the park were fully loaded when the blast occurred.

 EMERGENCY RULE EXTENSION'LL DEPEND ON SECURITY REPORT

The House of Representatives, on Sunday,  said lawmakers would be guided by the security reports from the affected states in taking a decision on whether to extend the emergency rule in such states or not.

The Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, said that security reports from the states would indicate the implications of removing the emergency rule.

Ogor stated this just as the Senate said that it would consider President Goodluck Jonathan’s demand for  the extension of emergency rule, if he presented it.

 ABUJA BOMB BLAST: PDP ACCUSES APC OF CULPABILITY

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday accused the opposition All Progressives Party of culpability in the bomb blast which killed over 70 people in Nyanya, Abuja, on Monday.

While condemning the act which it described as barbaric, monstrous and extremely wicked, the PDP said the attacks were politically motivated.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said this in a statement, in Abuja.

 ATTACK, A NEEDLESS WAR-MARK, SENATE 

Senate President, David Mark, on Monday condemned the bomb blast that left scores of citizens dead.

He also told the perpetrators to have a rethink because the action was a needless war.

Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan,  said no matter the anger or grievances in any body’s mind, “war on defenceless  citizens is uncalled for because it is  inhuman and unarguably ungodly.”

 B'HARAM CRISIS TEMPORARY, SAYS JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan,  who cancelled his planned trip to Ibadan, Oyo State, visited the scene of the explosion amidst tight security.

Jonathan was initially billed to attend the centenary birthday service of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Odulana Odugade.

He  arrived the scene at 12.20am with the President of the Senate, David Mark, and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’Azu.