October 2010 Abuja attacks

October 2010 Abuja attacks
2010 Nigeria Independence Day attacks
Location Abuja, Nigeria
Date October 1, 2010 (GMT+1)
Target Crowds celebrating 50th anniversary of Nigeria's Independence
Attack type Car bombing
Death(s) 12
Injured 17
Suspected perpetrator Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

The October 2010 Abuja attacks otherwise 2010 Nigeria Independence Day attacks, were two car bombings carried out against crowds celebrating the fiftieth anniversary (golden jubilee) of Nigeria's independence in the capital city of Abuja on the morning of 1 October, 2010. The attacks left 12 dead and 17 injured. According to multiple sources[1][2], the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) issued a warning less than an hour before the first bomb stating the location, near Eagle Square (-the venue of the celebration), and the time, around 10:30 a.m., of planned bombings.[3]

The first blast occurred around 10:30 a.m., and the second shortly afterwards, after emergency services had arrived at the scene.[2]

Reactions and investigation

A former leader of MEND, Henry Okah, was arrested in South Africa following the twin car bombings.[4] He was accused of terror. Okah denied accusations of planning the bombings. He was disowned by MEND.[5] Police in Nigeria also detained Raymond Dokpesi, campaign manager for former Nigerian leader Ibrahim Babangida, for questioning over the bombing. Dokpesi was later released and said his arrest was political in nature.[6]

Nigerian paper This Day reported that British intelligence was warned of a plot against the 50th anniversary celebrations, and this was the reason Gordon Brown and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester cancelled their trips to Nigeria for the celebration.[7]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

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