TWO suicide
bombers, suspected to be members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on
Sunday morning attacked a church where Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang
worships in Jos, killing two worshippers.
The two bombers also died. Four
others died in the angry protest by Jos youths that followed the incident.
Thirty-eight other persons reportedly sustained injuries from the bombing.
The sect in a statement by its
spokesman, Abu Qaqa, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack came even as the
police claimed they defused two bombs planted at their barracks in Gombe.
Jang was said to have escaped
the attack because he was not at the first service that started at 7.00am. The
governor usually attends the second service, conducted in Hausa language, at
11.00am.
The attacked Church of Christ
in Nigeria
The dead bombers were said to
have rammed their vehicle, a Volkswagen
Bora car, into the gates of the church and had attempted to drive
all the way into the church auditorium.
Their car, however, got caught
at a point amid motorcycles parked within the premises.
Eyewitnesses said the car exploded immediately it got stuck, killing the
bombers even as they tried to escape from the vehicle.
The killers’ car was said to
have followed the patrol van of the Special Task Force onto the church and
attempted forcing its way through as the van entered the premises.
Another account however said the
bombers were dressed in army uniforms and that they were allowed into the
church premises by a soldier at the gate who apparently mistook them for his
colleagues.
When news reached the Jos youths
that the bombers were dressed in army uniform, they took to the streets and
threw stones at soldiers.
While security agents cordoned
off the area where the church is located, the angry youths reportedly mounted a
road block where they attacked and killed four other people.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in
his reaction to the Jos incident on Sunday, said those seeking to divide the
country through terrorism would not succeed.
The President who spoke through
his spokesman, Reuben Abati, commiserated with the victims of the incident and
assured them that security agents would go after the perpetrators.
The statement by Abati says, “It
is with great sadness that President Goodluck Jonathan received the news of the
suicide bombing, today, at the Headquarters of the Church of Christ
“Mr. President conveys his
sympathies and condolences to the victims of the odious acts.Those who seek to
divide us by fear and terror will not succeed.
“The indiscriminate bombing of
Christians and Muslims is a threat to all peace-loving Nigerians.
“Mr. President will continue to
stand firm to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians while ensuring
that the relevant institutions move against those who disregard the sanctity of
life in the pursuit of sectarian ambitions.”
It adds, “Government is
gradually and firmly bringing justice to those behind these attacks and
exposing their identities and dismantling their terror infrastructure.
“President Jonathan appeals to
all residents of Plateau
State
“As we mourn with today’s
victims, let it be known that efforts are being redoubled to win the war
against terror.”
The National Association of
Nigerian Students described the Jos bombing as “one blast too many.”
The students in a statement by
National President of NANS say, “We want to categorically use this medium to
declare these acts of bombing of innocent citizens as a cowardly act by the
terrorist groups and their sponsors.
“It is so unfortunate that this
group and their sponsors are hell bent on truncating our nascent democracy and
the peaceful coexistence of our people.
“We hereby want to once again
call on the Federal government to consider our repeated call for the
convocation of a National stakeholder’s conference on National security in
order to challenge the growing threat of terrorism against our country.
“The responsibility of our
protection as Nigerians can no longer be left in the hands of the government
alone as we hereby call on “Nigerians to be more vigilant and give necessary
support to the security agencies.”
Meanwhile, the police in Bauchi State
The Bauchi State
Aduba’s statement reads, “Our
intelligence source indicates that there have been a lingering rivalry and
acrimony between two factions of the COCIN church adherents within Toro/Tilden
Fulani axis of Bauchi State, and this said rivalry came to a head today Sunday,
February 26, 2012 at about 0805hrs, when one of the factions stormed COCIN
church, Unguwan Ring, Tilden Fulani and demanded for documents belonging to the
Church, and which said demand led to a row.
“Acting on information, a crack
team of detectives from Bauchi State Police Command were quickly dispatched to
the church and this timely intervention prevented the occurrence of some
unwholesome violence in Bauchi State today, as the detectives rounded-up the
rivalry factions cum suspects, and upon on-the-spot search conducted recovered
an Improvised Explosive Device from one of the suspects, thus thwarting the
evil machination of the culprits.
“Our bomb experts, having
successfully disarmed the recovered IED, has further confirmed that it is a
complete bomb, manually operated, and that this is the second time we are
seeing this kind of IED as it is clearly similar to those used in the foiled
Ganjuwa invasion; very potent and dangerous!
“So far eight suspects have been
arrested in connection with this case and are currently helping the Police to
tidy-up investigations after which they will be made to face the full wraths of
the law.”
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