ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's intelligence agency said it has been warning shopping complexes in Abuja for two weeks that Islamic extremists might attack them in the capital, where a blast at a mall killed 22 people this week.

The increased security may have prevented even more carnage as witnesses said a security guard stopped a car bomber from entering the mall moments before the massive explosion on Wednesday.

Survivor Donald Chikason told ThisDay newspaper that a security guard argued with the driver of a car who wanted to enter Emab Plaza through the exit gate. When the guard refused, the man bent down and moments later the car exploded, Friday's edition of the newspaper quoted him as saying.

"The man started arguing, behaving as if he was drunk," it quoted him as saying.

Chikason, who works at a bank in the mall, was knocked unconscious by the blast and regained consciousness in the hospital.

The explosion was heard miles (kilometers) away. It set 17 vehicles ablaze and shattered windows throughout the four-story complex.

Body parts lay around the exit gate, other witnesses told The Associated Press. Dozens of wounded survivors were recovering in the hospitals Friday, most suffering burn wounds like Chikason, but at least one victim's leg was amputated, doctors said.

Nigerian intelligence received information that Boko Haram extremists were planning such an attack, said spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar of the Department of State Security.

"About two weeks ago we heard information that they were planning an attack at a busy shopping mall or market ... and so we had to go from one shopping complex to another trying to tell people to be more aware," she told The Associated Press.

Emab Plaza is the biggest and busiest in Abuja, the nation's capital in central Nigeria. The explosion occurred around rush hour as many residents were hurrying to view Nigeria's Super Eagles match against Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil. It was unclear if the bomb was timed to coincide with that, although Boko Haram has bombed several football viewing venues this year, prompting two northeastern states to ban public events to watch the football spectacular.

The state security department did not publish the intelligence about the threat to shopping malls, apparently to avoid a panic. Last week the government warned it had information that Boko Haram planned to hijack petrol tankers in the capital and booby trap them with explosives.

Two separate bombs in Abuja in April killed about 120 people and wounded more than 200 at a busy bus station.

President Goodluck Jonathan returned home Thursday night, cutting short his participation at an African Union summit in Equatorial Guinea.
http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-intelligence-agency-warned-malls-123850933.html;_ylt=AwrBEiEKIa5TbVgA8DGZmolQ

This corroborates what a friend said online, he said he was tipped off on the day of the blast by a relative who works in the SSS to be very careful as there could be a bomb attack that day.
It raises questions as to why the attack couldn't be stopped if prior intelligence was available.

emk4lif: This corroborates what a friend said online, he said he was tipped off on the day of the blast by a relative who works in the SSS to be very careful as there could be a bomb attack that day.
It raises questions as to why the attack couldn't be stopped if prior intelligence was available.

good question

And why are d attackers always getting away with it,leaving just some few suspects to be apprehended.all apprehended suspects r deaf n dumb for them not to hav mentioned any sponsor?Yet tips r even given?

Two separate bombs in Abuja in April killed
about 120 people and wounded more than 200 at
a busy bus station.

But they never owned up to this. They kept reducing the figures until today. All govts. are serial liars. Mtcheeew...

Does SSS expect business owners in Abuja shopping malls to all shutdown their businesses all because Bokoharam will be visiting? How come all of dis bloodshedding seems to have far ending. Where do we seek for further help to overcome all dis??

For God sake terrorism is not a child play movie. And the only person who can bring the boko haram to their kneel is not serious over security matters except on paper not practical. Mr President is only u dat can do it, pls help us.

chai

Fork Nigerian security force

oh k

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Dude..
i know what you're up to but trust me, i trust my niggas, they gonna smam you the scammer

Securing Nigeria; our collective responsibility..
The current threat to Nigeria, requires greater engagement with the public.
However, to be effective the public must be equipped with the knowledge of where and why specific locations and activities may be a terrorist target, what is being done to protect those targets, and how they can help.
Previous examples of Nations who have endured long terror campaign(including Israel, Spain and d U.K) demonstrate that a well-informed public is a vital part of developing their ability to withstand any kind of terror attack or other catasrophic events..
But i don't see our security units as competent enough, to supply the neccessary info the public needs.. And this is mainly the fault of the government..
Can't we ever get anything right in this country?

They've been driven out of the forest by snakes and bees; hope they wont make FCT their abode.

GTB introduces the new

slimED: good question

Interesting.Complicity.I quote Abacha; If insurgency exists in a country for more than 24 hours, blame the government.

In another thread the sponsor of BH is said to be caught yet no name was mentioned and that's the last you will hear of it.

If Abbaa Moro's saga could be swept under the carpet that means the government doesn't value its citizens.To your tents oh Israel, look after your house oh Jesse.

Hmmmmmm...

Finally Nairaland don cast.If it were before it would be 150 members and 210 guests viewing but now even all joinn doesn't reach 50.Chai.

These hackers the wickedness you are sharing.Diaris God o!

Titiluvly: Hmmmmmm...

This babe.What are you hmmming?

Titiluvly: Hmmmmmm...

This babe.What are you hmmming?Hope you slept fine?

Kirinwa:

This babe.What are you hmmming?Hope you slept fine?

I am hmmmin for my beloved country...btw I slept fine

Security in Nigeria is a collective responsibility. Kudos to SSS. 'Cus i believe they now 've a Spy inside the BH camp. Many people have died. Lots of Properties lost. We just have one thing left, HOPE. Let's stop abusing our leaders. 'Cus that what the people sponsoring these rebels want. Divided we fall my people. Boko haram will soon be a thing of the past. Am not a fan of Mr.President. Am just loyal to anybody sitting on that presidential seat!

Kirinwa:

Interesting.Complicity.I quote Abacha; If insurgency exists in a country for more than 24 hours, blame the government.

In another thread the sponsor of BH is said to be caught yet no name was mentioned and that's the last you will hear of it.

If Abbaa Moro's saga could be swept under the carpet that means the government doesn't value its citizens.To your tents oh Israel, look after your house oh Jesse.

Bro, if u wanna know about all the terrorists they caught, I advice u join the army or SSS. I don't wanna know about. I Want know that this country is safe. A country where Governors openly insult there President aint going anywhere mehn

It is becoming clear that we citizens' refusal to view security as a collective affair is our undoing. If you think you can always survive to blame the government, be reminded today that the dead don't talk. Be vigilant, take your safety in your hands, put your ears down for the latest intelligence feed.

To me having knowledge and not stoping the bombing makes the sss culpable.

They should start the investigation from within.

Hmmm

abeg am moving to burkina-faso.........today bombing tomorrow gun attack when will these stop in my country

How do they dissipate their warning message that people don't get it?

After every attack,they'll come out and say they 'warned' of it. Maybe they shoul try using Nairaland and other vibrant social media.

Where were the CCTVs cameras to capture the fleeing boko harams. It is high time the security of the common man is taken seriously or the he turns to politician haram to the rulers. Enough said.

It is the ss job to prevent attacks not just to warn about them, the last time I check malls don't have the technology to prevent bombs from blasting.

This is as good as keeping people hostage within a very large space...
I cannot bear to think how Abuja inhabitants feel. So insecure! Why,Oh Lord! What hv we done to deserve this?
So people shld not go freely around anymore? You cannot go to a shopping mall without reminder of the bomb blast and fear that a repeat is possible.
We need a transformation. I'm sick and tired of this trash!