Car Bomb Kills Three In Jos Church …Jonathan Condemns Attack, Condoles With Victims

Suicide bombers yesterday rammed their vehicle into the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos during the  morning service, killing some of the worshipers.

Although  Police Commissioner, Emmanuel Ayeni stated that an unspecified number of people had been killed, The Tide learnt that no fewer than  three worshippers died and about 10 others wounded.

Mr Manaseh Pampe, Chairman, Plateau chapter of the Red Cross, whose members were seen evacuating some of the casualties, said that he was neither sure of the figures of those killed nor those injured.

Newsmen  who were close to the scene of the explosions, reported that the vibration of the blasts shook most parts of the city.

Eyewitnesses said that the bombers were dressed in army uniforms, and reported that most of the worshippers were pulled out of the rubbles of the collapsed building, while 37 vehicles were badly damaged by the explosions with that of the suicide bombers reduced to fractions.

The Pastor in-charge of the Church, Rev. John Dalyop, told  newsmen that the actual figure of casualties could not be immediately ascertained as yet as many were in coma and could not be resuscitated at the church.

The Tide gathered  that many of the casualties were taken to the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Sauki Hospital,  Bingham University Teaching Hospital, while others were taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

At the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Dr Samuel Ibrahim, the doctor on duty, said that three female worshippers were confirmed dead while 25 were on admission with some of them severely burnt.

Further eyewitness accounts said that the two suicide bombers drove in a black jeep loaded with explosives and had beaten the check-point when the security personnel deployed into the church insisted on a search.

“The vehicle came in from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) junction and the bombers said they should be allowed to park after the check-point.

“The church security insisted on checking, but the bombers  pretended as if they were going to stop for the check, but just zoomed off into the church compound where service was on going.

“The vehicle exploded immediately it ran inside the service; they were in a hurry as if they wanted to get to where the worshippers were because, perhaps, the timing of the explosives had almost reached,’’  he further explained.

The President of COCIN, Rev. Soja Bewarang, wept uncontrollably at the scene, according to reporters.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, ASP Samuel Dabai, who was also at the scene of the incident, said that the command could only confirm the explosion for now but could not give more details.

President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned yesterday’s suicide bombing at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) in Jos and the mindless acts of reprisal that followed the incident.

The President in a statement issued yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati conveyed his sympathies and condolences to the“ victims of the odious acts’’.

The president noted that those, who sought to divide the nation by fear and terror, would 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.”

The president said that government was “ gradually and firmly bringing justice to those behind the attacks and exposing their identities and dismantling their terror infrastructure.

“Those behind similar acts of terror in recent times have been arrested and are being investigated with a view to prosecuting them accordingly as a deterrent to others.”

The president appealed to all residents of Plateau State to remain calm and  law-abiding.

He re-assured the people that efforts were being redoubled to win the war against terror.

In a related development, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja restated his appeal to Nigerians to eschew violence.

The president also stressed the need for national repentance which, he said, was a solution to the dwindling moral values in the country.

Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, made the call at a meeting of  Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference is “Catholic Education and the New Evangelisation”.

“No time can be more auspicious than this period of Lent to call for national repentance; our citizens must move away from the culture of violence.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right) with his Abia State counterpart, Chief Theodore Orji (middle) and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili during a public lecture in honour of Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu in Port Harcourt, last Friday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga