•35 killed, scores injured in bombings, reprisal attacks •Govt imposes 24-hour curfew

Photo: 

Sun News Publishing

Victims of reprisal attacks in Kaduna

By: 

NOAH EBIJE and ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna

Date: 

Sun, 06/17/2012 – 22:49

Suicide bombers, yesterday struck at different churches in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria town, killing many people, as well as injuring scores of Christian worshippers, who were  observing the Sunday service. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks as at press time. According to an eyewitness who gave his name as Audu Brown, three suicide bombers drove to the gate of Christ The King Catholic Church along Yoruba Street in Sabon Gari Area of Zaria at about 8.45 am, but they were stopped by a security man attached to the church.

Sensing that their mission was discovered by the security man, the eyewitness added that two of the bombers attempted to escape, but were intercepted and set ablaze by the people, while the third bomber ignited the bomb,  killing himself and the security man near him instantly.

Daily Sun also gathered that as the Sabon Gari Area bomb blast was taking place, another one exploded at ECWA Church in Wusasa Area of Zaria. Actual number of casualties was not ascertained at press time, but it was gathered that about 35 people may have been killed and scores injured in both attacks and the reprisal, later in Kaduna.

Similarly, another explosion rocked a Church, simply known as Shalom Church in Trikania Area of Kaduna metropolis. The attack in Trikinia was what forced the youths in Gonin Gora Area, along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, to embark on reprisal attacks, Daily Sun learnt. Tension engulfed Kaduna metropolis, as angry youths began to make bonfires in the Sabon Tasha, Television and other Christian dominated parts of the metropolis.

Daily Sun further learnt that roadblocks and bonfires were made along major roads in the metropolis, as angry youths chased Hausa traders around. Okada operators and commercial vehicles immediately stopped operations, as churches too abruptly terminated their services to allow members trek home, as there were no means of transportation.  The reprisal attacks, it was learnt, left many dead with several commercial motorcycles belonging to a particular ethnic group, who are minorities in those areas, set ablaze. 

When Daily Sun went round Trikania, Sabon Tasha, Narayi, Gonin Gora, thick smoke, either from bonfires or vehicles set ablaze by angry mobs, billowed from the areas. Gunshots sporadically rent the air in some areas, with many residents, who were within the vicinity keeping indoors.

The blast at the Shalom church, Daily Sun gathered, claimed some lives, including that of one of the soldiers on guard at the church, just as the Photo Journalist with Daily Independent newspaper, Mr. Nathaniel Jibrin was dealt several machete cuts on the head by hoodlums, who were said to have asked him what religion he professed, while on his way to scene of the blast. At the time of filing this report, Jibrin and scores of others injured were said to be receiving medical treatment at the intensive care unit of Saint Gerald Catholic Church, Kaduna.

The photo journalist was said to have been rushed to the hospital by Good Samaritans who saw him lying unconscious on ground. His wife was said to have been barred by the hospital staff from seeing him.  Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has declared a 24-hour curfew with immediate effect.

In a state-wide broadcast, the governor said: “We woke up this morning to the unfortunate blast in Zaria and Kaduna. As a result, 24-hour curfew has been imposed on the whole state. Keeping indoors will allow the security agents to perform their duties to fish out these criminals and to forestall reprisal attacks, which are often worst than the devastation wreaked on the innocent and law abiding citizens by the criminals. 

“I want to assure you that government would not tolerate the breakdown of law and order and disregard for the sanctity of human life.  “Everything is being done to bring the situation to a stop by denying those bent on causing anarchy in the state, the opportunity to celebrate their objectives. Government regrets this decisive decision, but it has been done in the interest of the state, in order to avoid the loss of lives and property in the state again. 

“There is no doubt it is going to cause some hardship, but government have the responsibilities to ensure the safety of lives and property. “Violence has never solved any problem, so we should embrace dialogue and remain peaceful,” the governor said.  In the meantime, the police as at press time said, their men were still on the field to ascertain the actual number of casualties.

DSP Aminu Lawan, police spokesman in Kaduna however told Daily Sun that they had been able to douse the tension occasioned by the reprisal attack.