Jaji Bombblasts : Death toll hits 50

An eyewitness yesterday said about 50 persons were killed when twin explosions from suicide bombers hit a church at the military cantonment at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, near Kaduna, though military authorities placed the casualty figure at 11. The attack occurred at St. Andrews Protestant Church, inside the barracks, some minutesafter midday while many worshippers who came for Sunday service were still inside the church. According to the eyewitness, (a soldier, who pleaded anonymity) about 50 persons lost their lives while several others were wounded. Many of them, he said were hit when they tried to escape after the first bomb went off. He said the attack was carried outusing a bomb-laden bus which rammed into the wall of the church, after which the second bomb-laden vehicle, a Toyota Camry car exploded. According to him, “It happened some minutes after mid-day at the end of the church service at the St. Andrews Protestant Church, inside the barracks. The first explosion occurred when a suicide bomber rammed a bomb-laden bus into the wall of the church while the second explosion came about 10 minuteslater, from a Toyota Camry car, parked within the church premises. “It was very devastating and we started picking the corpses and evacuating the injured. I tell you, those killed were about 50. The senior officers seized all our handsets and prevented people from taking photographs. “People killed were so many because a number of worshippers were still inside the church and various groups were holding meetings after the serviceand they rushed out after the firstexplosion just for the second one to occur minutes later”, he said. However, confirming the incidence the Army Headquarters in Abuja said only 11 persons were killed while about 30 others were injured. The Army, in a release signed by Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Bolaji Koleoso confirmedthat two vehicles were used in the attack adding that it has commenced investigations on thematter. The statement said injured persons were taken to the44 Reference Hospital and the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, both in Kaduna. As at press time, the army has restricted movement into the Jaji facility even as residents have been gripped by fear. In a related development, unknown gunmen riding on a motorbike yesterday shot and killed a man, his wife and one of their children while they were driving out of his residence in Kwanar Masallaci in Naibawa quarters. One of the children however survived the attack as hewas not hit by any bullet. The family was said to be on theirway to church for service when they were attacked. Moments after the gunmen escaped from the scene, operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) arrived and cordoned off the area, while some of the security men spread to the adjoining streets, which they combed for a possible clue totracking down the fleeing suspects. According to a source, before the arrival of security men to the scene, sympathizers, who were frightened, had already gathered at the spot but scared to move close to the attacked vehicle, the interior of which was smeared with blood of the three victims while a child of the family escapedunhurt. Meanwhile, the police had evacuated the bodies of the deceased to the mortuary. Kano State Police Command PublicRelations officer (PPRO), ASP Magaji Majia, who confirmed the incident, said the father of the family died on the way to the hospital while his wife and child who were said to have died on the spot were taken to the mortuary. He said the Police have begun investigations into the incident and appealed to members of the public to assist the Police with useful information that would lead to the arrest of the gunmen. The incidence would be the fifth within one month in the Naibawavicinity. It should be recalled that in November, gunmen, riding on amotorbike, shot and killed a Kano State lawmaker, a police officer and three others in the area. Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that some gunmen yesterday morning attacked a divisional police stationin Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto state. An eyewitness told online news portals that several gunmen moved toward the police station firing at the station ceaselessly.