18th June, 2012
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered massive deployment of police personnel in Kaduna to restore calm following the bombing of three churches in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Force Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, on Sunday.
The IG appealed to residents of the affected areas to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands as the police and other security agencies were doing everything possible to end the incessant attacks.
He also urged opinion leaders to desist from making inciting or inflammatory statements capable of aggravating the situation.
“Two wrong can never make a right,” he said.
Abubakar, however, warned criminal elements carrying out campaign of violence against innocent citizens and institutions to desist from such acts.
According to him, the police and other law enforcement agencies will not sit back and watch such people put the life of innocent citizens in jeopardy.
The appeal and warning followed reports of breakdown of law and order in the affected areas as youths took to the street to protest the attack on the churches.
He said as part of efforts to restore normalcy in the state, Mr. Suleiman Fakai, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (AIG) who coordinates police operations in the North West, had moved to Kaduna.
He said that Fakai would personally coordinate police operations in the state.
The statement confirmed that 16 persons died in the attacks, adding that nine, including the suicide bomber died at Christ the King Catholic Church, three at ECWA church and four at Shalom church.
“The first incident took place at about 8.35 a.m. at ECWA Church Wusasa, Zaria; the second at about 8.45a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church Sabo-Gari, Zaria, and the third at Shalom Church Kakuri, Kaduna, at about 9.30 a.m.,” it said.