Explosion Rocks Two Churches In Bauchi …Two Soldiers, DPO, Eight Others Killed

Muslim gunmen killed nine people and wounded 12 others in the latest round of religious violence that hit northern Nigeria, according to reports from Bauchi State. The attack, in the early hours of Sunday morning, came less than a day after Boko Haram, Nigeria’s Islamist separatist insurgents, said it carried out coordinated bombings that left as many as 160 people dead last Friday night.

Bukata Zhyadi, a traditional elder of a Christian ethnic group, said nine bodies had been found at dawn yesterday in the town of Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi state.

“We are going around the town checking (for more)” he said. Twelve people were wounded and witnesses blamed the attack on a Muslim ethnic group.

Explosions struck two churches in Bauchi on Sunday, witnesses said, destroying one of them completely.  Bauchi township resident Garbi Ali said he heard two explosions at around 2 a.m. Yesterday, before anyone would be likely to be in church, and went out to investigate.

“One of the churches was at the railway line. They just destroyed the gate. But the other one at Fadama was completely destroyed and the roof collapsed,” he said.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right), his wife, Judith and deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, during the funeral service of Prof. Abiye Obuoforibo at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral, Okrika, Rivers State, on Saturday