Student n Teacher Narrates Ordeal

After the attack carried out in Government Comprehensive Senior Science Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State, student and teachers who survived the suicide bomb attack have recounted their tragic tale.
The explosion which ripped through an all-boys school in Potiskum, just as students gathered for morning assembly before classes began, claimed 47 lives, leaving 79 others injured.

 

Recounting his experience, Adamu Abdullahi, one of the students who survived the explosion said those at the centre of the blast near the principal’s office were flung in all directions while others were knocked off their feet.

“I found myself under the weight of another student, who fell over me. I’m certain he was dead. I was dazed and disorientated for a moment. When I realised what had happened, I managed to push the body on top of me and started running like everyone else. It was confusion all over. Everybody was hysterical. I saw many people on the ground. Human flesh and blood were splattered all over the place. I ran out of the school and went home. When my father saw me he was terrified. I didn’t realise my white school uniform was stained with human blood and bits of flesh.” 

Another traumatized student said he ran away from the assembly ground with his white uniform stained with blood and bits of flesh.

According to one of the teachers who witnessed the explosion, the students had gathered for the morning assembly when suddenly something exploded with a thunderous sound at exactly 7:50 a.m.

“The explosion has affected many students but I can’t say how many because we are now evacuating the victims to the hospital which is just 100 metres away,” the teacher said.

One rescue worker disclosed that the wounded had “various degrees of injuries”, while those who survived complained of hearing problems from the deafening blast.

 

The blast which was considered one of the worst attacks on schools left the assembly ground littered with abandoned footwear, books, bags and body parts.

The school has more than 1,000 students and caters for boys aged 15 to 20. The victims are all believed to be in their teenage years.

The explosion came barely 24 hours after Boko Haram released a new video which showed Shekau preaching to locals and he once again denied Nigerian government claims of a ceasefire and peace talks with the insurgents.

Reactions have been trailing the tragic incident. The Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, in his immediate reaction wondered why the FG has not put an end to the terrorists and their incessant attacks.

Former Vice President and APC Presidential Aspirant, Atiku Abubakar condemned the killing of innocent students.