UN House blast: Names of deceased released

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Boko Haram, Cross River, Latest Politics, Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-79, 99-07), United Nations Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

ABUJA -Three weeks after the United Nations House bomb blast, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure , Wednesday announced the names of UN members of staff and other non UN persons killed in the August 26 bomb attack. Mr. Daouda Toure confirmed that 23 persons were killed in the attack of which 11 were UN personnel and 12 non-UN persons.

The names of the deceased and their respective agencies and organisations are as follows.

United Nations Staff

Ms Rahmat Abdullahi, Registry clerk, UNDP, Mr Musa Ali, zonal Logistics Assistant for the North-west Zone, WHO, Mr Johnson Awotunde, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, UNICEF, Dr Edward Dede, National Professional Officer, WHO, Mr Elisha Enaburekhan, Driver, UNAIDS; Mr. Ahmed Abiodun Adewale-Kareem, Shipping Assistant, UNICEF; Mr. IIiya David Musa, Receptionist, U.N. Common Services, UNDP; Ms Ingrid Midtgaard, Associate Expert, UNODC; Mrs Felicia Nkwuokwu, Receptionist, U.N Common Services, UNDP, Mr. Stephen Obamoh, ERT Radio Operator, UNDP; Mr. Abraham A. Osunsaya, Administrative Assistant, WHO.

Non United Nations Staff:

Mr. Sunday James Ebere: Shipping Agent, Balast Agency; Mr. Ndubisi Bright, Hospitality Industry Consults; Mr Paul Waziri: Nigeria Cleaning Services; Ms Kate Demehin: Federal Ministry Of Health; Ms Caroline Michael, Guard; Mr Sunday Omelenyi-Guard; Mr Yakubu Garuba-Guard; Mr Abiodun Cyril Adeseye-Julius Berger; Ms Patricia Ekweringe-Travel Agent; Ms Joy Audu-Nigeria Cleaning Services, and two unidentified persons.

The UN House, after the bombing

Mr Daouda said: “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 the proudly served the mission and ideals of the United Nations”, he added.

A total of 116 people were injured in the blast and received medical treatment after the explosion, including 64 U.N staff members, 36 non-UN staff and 16 persons that are yet to be identified. Among these, 17 seriously injured victims were evacuated to South Africa (12 UN and 5 non UN) for specialist treatment.

“We are also aware that one victim who was at the UN House, has been privately evacuated to the United Kingdom, while the UN in collaboration with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has also facilitated the travel of accompanying members of the evacuated persons to South Africa.

The United Nations 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 and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedom”, he added.

Commenting on the state of those who where flown to South Africa for special treatment, the Representative of the WHO, Mr. David Okelo said, “their cases have improve, for those who were in coma are now talking. One out of the three most serious ones have been discharged.

“Just to make it clear, we never took these people out because of incompetence of the medical personal but we took them out to South Africa because of lack of equipment in Nigerian hospitals, because of the state they were at that particular moment, any hospital that can not be able to help a patient in 48 hours, there is a problem”, he added.

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