Three Bomb Blasts hit Separate Churches in Zaria, Kaduna

Two weeks ago, a suicide bomber attacked a church in Bauchi state. Last Sunday, there were coordinated suicide bomb attacks and gunshots at churches in Jos and Borno. Today, Churches in Kaduna state have been hit by bomb explosions.

Yet another dark Sunday.

Three explosions have hit three different churches in Kaduna state, today Sunday June 17th, 2012.

In the early hours of the morning, two bomb blasts rocked Wusasa and Sabon Gari areas of the city.

The first blast is said to have occurred at the ECWA Church located in Wusasa at about 8:30am between the main church and the children’s section of the church. It is also feared that the death toll of children might be high.

The suicide bomber is reported to have driven in a bomb-rigged Honda Accord, but was denied entry by the security operatives at the check point. He is said to have forced his way towards the church when the bomb exploded.

Students of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic are worst hit as most of the Christian students worship at the church.

The second blast is reported to have occurred at the Christ the King Catholic Cathedral, Yoruba Street, Sabon Gari.

However, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that a third bomb blast has occured along the Bye-Pass of Zaria city in Kaduna State.

According to media reports, the explosion rocked a church called the Shalom church.

Casualty figure at the sites is still unavailable said the spokesman of NEMA, Yakubu Shuaibu and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet but it mirrors the style of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram.

It’s really sad that attending a Church service in the Northern states is no longer safe.

May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace.

UPDATE: Reports have confirmed that at least 24 people were killed and 125 injured in the attacks on churches in Kaduna.

The explosions sparked violence in the state as christian youths retaliated, moving around with cutlasses and sticks among other weapons. Sources say the youths  burnt a mosque at Television area and another at Goningora was broken into and vandalised in retaliation for the attacks on the three churches.

News Source: Channels TV | Vanguard | Daily Trust