UN releases names of dead victims

UN releases names of dead victims
Hauwa Anaja Abu and Ngozi John Anigbogu, Abuja

The United Nations has released the names of the twenty-three people killed in the August twenty-six bomb attack on UN Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

Briefing Newsmen on Wednesday, the UN Resident Coordinator, Dauda Toure said eleven of them were UN staff working for the WHO, UNICEF,UNDP, UN AIDS and UNODC.

He listed them to include:

“Ms Rahmat Adullahi,(UNDP), Mr. Musa Ali,(WHO), Mr. Johnson Awotunde, (UNICEF), Dr. Edward Dede (WHO), Mr. Elisha Enaburekhan (UNAIDS), Mr. Ahmed Abiodun (UNICEF), Mr Iliya David Musa (UNDP), Ms Ingrid Midtgaard (UNODC), Mrs Felicia Nkwuokwu (UNDP), Mr. Stephen Obamoh (UNDP), and Mr Abraham Osunsaya (WHO).

Non UN staff

Others included ten non UN Staff; among them guards, contractors consultants and a staff of the Ministry of health, Nigeria.

“Mr. Sunday James Ebere, Mr Ndubisi Bright, Mr. Paul Waziri, Ms Kate Demehin, Ms Caroline Micheal, Mr Sunday Omelenyi, Mr Yakubu Garuba, Mr Abiodun Cyril Adeseye, Ms Patricia Ekweringe, Ms Joy Audu.”

“These men and women lost their lives while contributing to improving the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians across the country.
“We will never forget them as individuals nor shall we forget the passion, commitment and courage with which they proudly served the mission and ideals of the UN,” Toure said.

Critical situations

The UN Resident Coordinator said people who were seriously injured and evacuated to South Africa were responding to treatment.

Dr. Toure also announced that one hundred and sixteen people were injured and received medical treatment after the explosion.

They include sixty-four UN staff members, thirty-six non UN staff and sixteen unidentified persons.

Investigations on- going

Toure added that detailed official reports on investigations are yet to be made available to the organisation, which was “probably due to the fact that, investigations were still in preliminary stages.

He further announced that the UN will remain in Nigeria to continue to deliver the entirety of its programmes in Nigeria, and sought the support of Nigerians to achieve this.

“The UN has a long term commitment to remain in Nigeria and continue its work to improve the lives of vulnerable people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy...,” he said.

In a remark, UN Chief Security Adviser in Nigeria Mr. Sorrien Scott disclosed that the organisation was carrying out an internal report to assist government in its investigations.

Iheanacho