Another bomb kills 12 in Bauchi

Updated

Latest report on the bombing of Christian worshippers in Yewan Tudu, on the outskirts of the Nigerian city of Bauchi said it was the handiwork of a suicide bomber.

Two churches, Living Faith and Harvest Field were affected.

The bombing impact made the buildings to collapse on the worshippers inside, police and residents said.

Recounting the incident in an interview with NAN, a Living Faith Church pastor, Mr. Johnson Elogu, said the suicide bomber forced his car into a group of worshippers.

He said: “at about 9.20 in the morning when those who attended the first service came out of the church, we heard a blast that shook the entire church building.

“People started running helter-skelter for their lives. I managed to come out only to discover that it was a case of suicide bombing.

“Several persons died while others were seriously injured and had been taken to the hospital.’

Reuters estimated the dead to be 12, including the bomber, with at least 35 injured.

But the police in Bauchi told the French news agency, AFP: “We have nine people dead including the bomber. Many people were injured but I can’t give you any precise number because the hospital is still trying to take a toll,” state police commissioner Momammed Ladan said.

It was not clear who was responsible for the blast on the outskirts of the city of Bauchi, although churches have been a favourite target of violent Islamist sect Boko Haram this year.

The attacker sped his vehicle as he approached a checkpoint near the church which had heightened security following previous attacks in the area blamed on Boko Haram.

“We have a checkpoint not far from the church which prevented the bomber from gaining access to his target,” said State police commissioner Mohammed Ladan.

“So he rammed the car into a security gate and the car exploded, killing him and eight other people. … Many people were injured but I can’t give you any precise number because the hospital is still trying to take a toll,” he added.

The head of the Nigerian Red Cross in Bauchi state, Adamu Abubakar, told AFP he counted 35 people injured at an area hospital.

Residents said that the explosion caused the church building to collapse, prompting dozens of people to flee seeking refuge, but some ran straight into a fire raging outside.

“There was confusion as residents and churchgoers tried to flee. Some of them out of fright fell into the fire caused by the explosion,” said resident Timothy Joshua.

Another witness, who requested anonymity, said a presumed accomplice tried to escape the scene after the blast went off and was later chased down and killed by enraged residents, although police could not confirm this account.

“The other bomber abandoned the car they came with and wanted to flee, but he was pursued by a resident and worshippers and beaten to death,” this witness said.

Boko Haram has claimed attacks killing more than 1,000 in Nigeria since July 2009, with some of the worst bloodshed coming in the northeast.

The group staged a daring jailbreak in Bauchi in September 2010 during which it said roughly 100 of its members were freed.