Church Bomb Blast in Kaduna - Survivors Side of the story

A suicide bomber drove into the Catholic church on Sunday yesterday while worshippers were praying and recieving Holy Communion and the blast killed Eight of the worshippers and injured many.  The bomber used a Honda SUV, with Kaduna State number plate AE979ZKW.

The bombing happened at the St. Ritas Catholic Church, Ungwan Yero, Malali, Kaduna State, also left 100 people injured. However, seven persons were reportedly killed in the reprisals that followed the blast.

A victim, Jacinta Oko, said, “We just heard the loud sound of the bomb blast when we were preparing to take Holy Communion. Before I knew what was happening, I found myself on the ground. I can say that so many people died because it affected the side where the choir members were sitting.”

A 30-year-old mother of four, Veronica Johnson, who also survived the bombing, confirmed that they were in the middle of the service when the suicide bomber hit the church. Johnson, spoke at the bedside of her two children-victims at the St. Gerard Catholic Hospital.

She said, “We were in the church, and it was during the consecration when everybody was kneeling down and praying. All of a sudden, we heard the deafening sound of the bomb. The bomb went off near where the choristers were sitting. So many people died, and so many people were injured. I saw some people lying down flat within the church premises.

“All of my four children were in the church when the thing happened, but my husband was not in the church. They all sustained injuries. One is just four months old.”

Another survivor, Ishaku James, said when the suicide bomber attempted to enter the church, he was prevented and he (bomber) reversed and rammed into the church through the fence.

He said, “There are many dead and injured people who were taken to Garkuwa Hospital, Saint Gerald Catholic Hospital, Army 44 Reference Hospital and Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital.

“The suicide bomber used a Honda CRV SUV. The church is called Saint Rita’s Catholic Church, Ungwan Yero, Malali. The bomb blast happened at about 8.30am when the Parish Priest was blessing the sacrament.

“Even if there were security men, they couldn’t have stopped the bomber because he came driving with a force and crashed through the fence of the church, and not through the gate of the church. The car used by the bomber got burnt, and the body of the bomber was left dangling on the wall of the church.

“So many people died in the church as the bomber crashed through the wall and hit the area where the choristers were. It means that many of them must have been badly affected.”

 

The Kaduna State government has pledged to pay the hospital bills of the victims of the bomb blast.