By DAVID IORJA, Abuja –
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari offered today his sincere condolences to President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea over the explosions at a military base in Bata which has wreaked havoc in the city.
Over 30 people have been reported killed with more than 6oo injured in the mishap with also left homes and buildings in the city with considerable damages.
In a condolence statement, President Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, extended heartfelt commiserations to those who have lost loved ones in the devastating incident.
Mr. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), in the statement, said the President wished those injured speedy recovery, adding that “the thoughts and prayers of Nigerians are with the people of Equatorial Guinea affected by this tragedy.”
Four massive explosions at a military camp shook Equatorial Guinea’s largest city, authorities said.
The blasts Sunday afternoon in the port city of Bata sent giant plumes of smoke into the air and destroyed dozens of buildings. Images broadcast on state-run television showed injured residents fleeing. Some seemed to be carrying bodies.
Although the Health Ministry said it had confirmed 17 dead and 420 injured, a doctor in Bata, a former capital, told the state-run TVGE television network that at least 20 were dead.
In a statement read by TVGE’s broadcasters, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema called the incident an “accident” and blamed it on the “negligence” of those tasked with guarding stores of dynamite and munitions. He ordered an investigation and asked the international community for help in rebuilding parts of the city that had been destroyed.