15 die, 100 injured in Kaduna blast

A BOMB explosion at a Catholic Church in Malali, Kaduna State   claimed 15 lives and injured 100 people yesterday.

But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put the casualty figure at eight.

The spokesperson of the agency Yushau Shuaib, said: “NEMA rescuers in collaboration with stakeholders have so far confirmed eight dead and over 100 people injured from the bomb explosion.”

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday condemned the suicide bomb attack, calling it “barbaric, cruel and uncalled for.”

The President who was “extremely saddened by the explosion,” noted that “the apparent objective of the criminal and unpatriotic elements and forces behind the attack is to set back the progress the Administration has made in the fight against terrorism in the country. It is obvious that these people do not mean well for Nigeria and its unity and development.”

Jonathan, however, expressed confidence that the war against terrorism would become more unrelenting as the nation would never give in to the forces of terror and retardation.

He added that the persistence of messengers of evil would not prevail over the will of the government and the people to secure peace and safety.

According to him, “our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation.”

The President commiserated with the Catholic Church, families and friends of the victims of the bombing, assuring them that government’s resolve to deal with the threat of terrorism remained strong.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, condemned the attack.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, Tambuwal added that the attack on innocent worshippers and other bystanders was both callous and senseless.

He, however, urged Nigerians to do more to destroy the ability of the terrorists to unleash mayhem on innocent, peaceful and law-abiding citizens.

The Parish Priest of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Bonny Bazah whose state of health was uncertain was said to have been hit by the blast as he was about administering Holy Communion on the worshipers in the church.

Rev. Fr. Bazah was initially rushed to Garkuwa Hospital before he was later moved to another hospital for medical attention.

An eyewitness, Ishaku James, who drove Bazah’s vehicle to St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in search of the priest, said that “the suicide bomber came with a Honda CRV, broke the fence and entered into the church,” adding that “all the casualties were taken to Garkuwa hospital, Barau Dikko, 44 Military Reference Hospital and St. Gerald Catholic Hospital.

“They even told us that they brought our reverend father here at St. Gerald, that is why we are here. That is even his vehicle. Honestly, the people that are affected are many. Garkuwa and Barau Dikko hospitals are complaining that the number of people brought to the hospitals was too many for them to cope with. We don’t know actually where the reverend father is now; we have been looking for him in all the hospitals. We saw him, he was injured on his face.

Source:Vanguard”