The death toll in the early Monday morning bomb blast at Nyanya bus terminus has increased to 75 including a 10-month old baby.
Nigerian Police authorities on Monday announced that 71 died and 124 people injured.
But, the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Tuesday confirmed that the number has risen to 75, following the death of another four at Wuse General Hospital and National Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ruled out mass burial for the victims of the bomb explosion.
Prof Chukwu, who assured that government would pick the bills of those receiving treatment, also said the bodies of the victims would soon be released to the families for burial.
The Health Minister said proper documentation of victims before releasing the bodies to their families is ongoing.
“When we released the figures yesterday, we made it clear that that it was provisional. It took us quite a long time as you aware for us to even release provisional figures.
“But finally late last evening when we released those figures, we still issued a caveat that they are provisional because sometimes there may be double counting and sometimes there might be people who were not counted.
“We have a total of 215 victims, but that has been reviewed downward because as at yesterday we were talking of 236, but now it is 215 because there might have been some double counting but now we know better.
“But what has increased is the casualty figure because we talked of 72 yesterday. At this moment we have 75 as those who are dead. So you have 215 at total but out of the 215, 75 are dead. So that is the current figures.
“The pathologists are working hard on that. When you have pieces of flesh and meat here and there, they need to be properly sorted out. Sometimes it is not as easy as people may think.
“So as at this time, I may not be able to give this information. By the pathologists are through, obviously we may have to revise the mortality figure. It will come. So I plead for you to be patient and let’s do it properly.
“We have been doing things as government to also increase the capacity for trauma. As you are aware, the addition trauma facility at the hospital is ready and even used a bit of it yesterday but it will be properly commissioned in the next few days.”
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