Posted on: 02:54 Thu, 29 May 2014
How Super Eagles Midfielder Escaped Jos
Blast

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How Super Eagles Midfielder Escaped Jos
Blast Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi says he is lucky to be alive after escaping death by the whiskers following bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau State last week.

“I am very, very lucky, just by the grace of
God,” the footballer who plies his trade at
Italian Serie A side, Lazio told BBC Sport.
One of the Jos blasts, which occurred at a
crowded bus terminal and market killed at
least 118 people.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Jos, had
just left the popular Jos Main Market when
the first bomb went off on Tuesday.
“It was just like an ordinary day. Happy
faces and friendly warmth that makes you
feel happy to be back home.

“We had gone to the railway market to get
something. I think it was 15 minutes later
when we heard the loud blast from the place.

And suddenly, people were just running.
“There was chaos and pandemonium. There was smoke, I was confused, lost and just wondered what had happened. I had no idea what was going on and it was scary.

“All my life I have never heard a bang or
boom like that,” Onazi said.

The second blast killed some of the rescue
workers who had rushed to the scene, which was obscured by billows of black smoke.

Onazi, who is now with the Super Eagles
squad in London as they prepare for today’s
friendly against Scotland says he has been
struggling to erase the memories of that dark
day, stressing that the unrest back home
has made it difficult to focus on football.
“Some will say I should be happy to be alive
but I just feel concerned about the security
challenges in Jos and Nigeria as a country,”
he said.
“I was born and bred in a peaceful Jos. I
may be fortunate enough to live outside the
place right now, but I still have my family
and friends who live in the city.
“I always get worried when there are reports
of terrible incidents there on a regular basis.
It’s sad and depressing to live with this.
“Personally, I think there is a need for a
holistic approach to solving this problem
once and for all.

“Innocent people are dying and the
government seriously needs to step up
security across the country.”

Onazi is preparing for his first World Cup with the Super Eagles after helping the Nigerian National team win the 2014 African Cup of Nations.

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