Christians desert churches in Jos over bomb blasts •Death toll now 3;17 injured

Posted by admin Headlines, Plateau, State News Sunday, December 11th, 2011

FOLLOWING Saturday night’s bomb explosions at three viewing centres in Jos, Plateau State, leading to the death of three persons, most churches on Sunday were

deserted with the fear that the situation might snowball into another round of crisis. There was also the fear that such explosive devices might have been planted in places of worship.

When Nigerian Tribune reporter went round Jos on Sunday, it was deserted as people stayed indoors and avoided public places where such devices might have been planted.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Jacob Apev, told newsmen that the police and other security agents on the ground in the state were on top of the situation and enjoined the people to go about their normal business, adding that the police had commenced full investigation into the incident.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Yiljap Abraham, implored the people of the state to be security-conscious and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents within their localities.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred at about 10.30 p.m. when the victims, along with others, were watching a Spanish football league match involving Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at their respective viewing centres in Jos North Local Government.

It was gathered that all the explosive devices were planted at the viewing centres before the arrival of the viewers, who thronged such venues in their large numbers.

The first explosion occurred at a viewing centre at Tina junction, at about 10.15 p.m. and injured five people and while the viewers and other people attracted to the scene as a result of the explosion were trying to salvage the situation, there was another explosion within the vicinity called Odus, where one person died instantly and six other sustained injuries.

It was gathered that the last one went off at another viewing centre at Bauchi Ring Road, opposite University of Jos Staff Quarters at about 10.28 p.m. as a result of which six people were also injured.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that some of the explosives planted in the swamp area were later detected and detonated by men of the anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police.

It was further learnt that two of those injured died in the early hours of Sunday .

Prior to the explosion, there had been rumour doing the rounds within the state capital that a group of people was planning to cause chaos in Jos and disrupt the coming Christmas celebration.

Meanwhile, one woman was killed while two others sustained gunshot wounds following an attack on Kukum Dutse, a village in Kagoro, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“The village was attacked in the midnight; one person was killed while two sustained gunshot wounds.

“As we speak, the two are being taken to the hospital in Jos for operations to remove the bullets lodged in their bodies,” Mrs Florence Aya, chairman of the local government, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview.

She described the attacks as “very strange and wicked,” pointing out that the villagers had always been “very peaceful.”

Mr Elihu Adamu, the Police Commander, Kafanchan area command, who confirmed the attack, said that the command was yet to make arrests but had begun investigation into the incident.

“We have visited the scene of the attack along with the chairman of the local government, Mrs Florence Aya. One person was killed and two others escaped with gun wounds.

“Those with gun wounds have been taken to Bingham Hospital in Jos, but we are on top of the situation,” he said.

Mr Yahaya Dadai, the Sole Administrator, Kagoro Development Area, who accompanied the victims to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, told NAN that they were in “stable conditions.”

He added: “We have just been sent to the X-Ray department preparatory to the removal of the bullets. By God’s grace, everything will be okay.”

-Tribunewp_posts