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As at press time on Sunday, there was no definite casualty figure though the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Alhaji Ibrahim Maishanu, put the number of the dead in the Suleja bombing at 12.
“I can confirm to you that a bomb blast took place in Madalla in Suleja Local Government Area this morning and so far 12 persons, including three policemen have so far died as a result of the blast. Several people were injured,” Maishanu said.
But the Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, told one of our correspondents that the number of his parishioners that died in the attack on the church early Sunday was yet to be determined.
Achi, who was close to tears said, “Many corpses were found on the rooftops. Corpses were thrown around this place (church premises).
“We don’t know the number of casualties yet because many of our parishioners were taken to hospitals in Suleja, Gwadalada, Kubwa and other places. Many, we heard, died on the way.”
Eyewitnesses, however, put the number of dead victims at 35. Twenty seven people were also said to have sustained injuries in the attack on the St. Theresa.
Our correspondents, who visited the scene reported that the explosion also consumed eight cars along with their occupants. Body parts were blown all over the area – on the road and inside the gutter – while personal effects littered the scene. Three motorcycles were also burnt.
The blast occurred around 8am when the congregation was coming out of the church. A Toyota Carina II, which was parked close to the church entrance, was believed to have been used to carry out the attack.
Burnt carcasses of cars were in a queue on the road and many other vehicles had their windscreens and other parts destroyed.
A pregnant woman, who was rushed to St. Lucas Memorial Hospital, Madala, died. Efforts to save her child failed as the baby did not survive the emergency caesarian operation carried out on her.
Three policemen that were controlling traffic in front of the church were yet to be found and there were fears that they might have been killed in the explosion. Two motorcyclists were also said to have died.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche, said the driver of the bomb-laden car had planned to drive into the church premises but was prevented by the policemen on duty.
He stated that he saw two corpses and several others that were wounded. Oguche said, “It was in the course of the argument with the driver of the car that the bomb went off. We are yet to know the whereabouts of the three policemen, but we are checking the hospitals where the victims were taken.”
The impact of the bomb dug a crater on the road which was later cordoned off by security agents, including policemen, soldiers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who conveyed victims with ambulances to some hospitals in the town.
A group of Hausa youths barricaded the road and set up bonfires, threatening to take on other ethnic groups that wanted to demonstrate over the incident.
Their action spread panic in the area as non-Hausa residents feared an escalation of the tension in the area.
A Photo-journalist with Business day, Tunde Adeniyi, narrowly escaped being lynched by the youth who stabbed him in the elbow with a knife.
He said that he was taking pictures of the youth when one of the youth grabbed him by the trousers and assaulted him.
“The mob would have killed me but for God’s grace and the fact that I pleaded with them in Hausa language. I was taking pictures of the bonfires they made when one of them grabbed me by the trousers and others came and started beating me.
“One of them stabbed me in the elbow while another one struggled to dispossess me of my bag.
“I was very afraid and I pleaded with them, but they kept beating me. I struggled with them and I managed to free myself and took to my heels,” the journalist explained.
A 13-year-old girl, Nancy Maduekwe ,who lost her parents and most of her siblings, lamented that almost all members of her family had been wiped out.
At the Suleja General Hospital, 19 people in critical condition were brought in, but one died and 16 were referred to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.
The Director, Hospital Services, Dr. Hussein Iyabagi, said the 16 were referred for “expert management”, adding that the three patients on admission were in stable condition.
A victim, Danlami Isah, who was covered in blood with lacerations on his body, explained that he was in a car close to the church when the bomb went off.
In Jos, the regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, along Murtala Muhammed Way, was also attacked by suspected Boko Haram members. Worshippers were still in the Christmas service at about 10.30am when the sect members struck.
The bombers were said to have accessed the church through Gangere, behind the old campus of the University of Jos and ambushed the policemen on guard at the church. One of the policemen, Kamson Ezekiel, was shot dead.
The shooting of the Constable sent panic waves through the congregation. In the ensuring confusion, the attackers reportedly threw bombs at the church. The bombs were said to have landed on cars. Four of the attackers were, however, said to have been arrested.
“I saw two of them. It was a well-coordinated attack as the bombers came from two sides and ambushed the policemen. Shots were fired sporadically and some of them hit the policemen,” an eyewitness told one of our correspondents.
One of those arrested gave his name as Usman Ishaku. Some bomb making devices were recovered after the security agents combed the bush where he was caught. Among the items recovered were two gas cylinders, a timing device, a soldier’s cap and boot.
The Commander of the Special Task Force, Maj. Gen. Olayinka Osinowo, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ayeni, and the Commandant of Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Desmond Agu, were the early callers to the spot.
STF Spokesman, Capt Charles Ekeocha, confirmed the casualty and the number of arrest.
Also on Sunday, a lone suicide bomber attempted to attack the Yobe State Command Headquarters of the State Security Service in Damaturu around 12.45pm.
The incident occurred as the convoy of the Commanding Officer of the 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru, Yobe State, Col. Dahiru Abdusalam, was driving into the headquarters complex for a security meeting.
The suicide bomber attempted to force his way into the convoy but was stopped by guards. However, his vehicle ran into the gate and the impact resulted in an explosion.
The incident claimed three SSS operatives and the suicide bomber. One person was injured. The Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed outside the office was also damaged.
Spokesman for Boko Haram, Abu Qaqa, agency reports say, claimed that the violent sect was responsible for the Christmas attacks.
“We are responsible for all the attacks in the past few days, including today’s (Sunday) bombing of the church in Madalla. We will continue to launch such attacks throughout the north in the next few days,” Qaqa was quoted by Agence France Presse as saying.
The Vatican, world headquarters of Catholic Church, on Sunday described the attacks as “an act of blind hatred that sought to arouse and feed even more hatred and confusion.”
President Goodluck Jonathan described the Christmas Day bomb blasts in Madalla, Jos and Damaturu as unwarranted affronts on the collective safety and freedom of Nigerians.
“These acts of violence against innocent citizens are unwarranted affronts on our collective safety and freedom,” the President said in a statement by his spokesman, Reuben Abati.
Meanwhile, the SSS has attributed the attacks to the the on-going operations by the security agencies to contain the excesses of terrorists who continue to wreak havoc on the public.
A statement by the SSS Media and Public Relations Officer, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, in Abuja stated that the attacks would not deter security agencies from securing the lives and property of Nigerians and ridding the society of criminals. (Credit: Punch)
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