Kaduna Church Bombing: At Least 10 Killed, 145 Injured As Mob Burns Man Alive

A suicide attack on a church in Kaduna earlier
today (Sunday) that has sparked fierce reprisals
leading to a Christian mob burning a man alive
has left at least 10 people dead and 145
wounded.
Christian youths took to the streets of the
northern city of Kaduna with machetes and
sticks after the blast, targeting those they
believed to be Muslims as anger again boiled
over due to repeated church bombings in recent
months.
An AFP correspondent reports that attackers
beat a motorcycle taxi driver near the church,
then put his bike on top of him before dousing
him with petrol and setting him on fire. Two
other bloodied bodies apparently killed by the
mob were seen near the church.
A rescue official said rescuers could not save
the man because the mob was too violent.
“So far we have eight dead and 145 injured from
the church blast,” Musa Ilallah, regional
coordinator for the National Emergency
Management Agency, told AFP, noting that his
death toll included the suspected bomber.
A witness identified as Emmanuel said: “All of a
sudden it drove on high speed and rammed into
the church wall, forcing its way into the church
premises.”
“Initially I thought the driver had lost control of
the vehicle. Suddenly there was a huge
explosion as the car reached the church
building. It was dust, fire and smoke all over.”
A spokesman for Nigeria’s National Emergency
Management Agency confirmed the bomb attack
and said rescuers had been rushed to the scene.
“A number of casualties evacuated to
hospitals,” said Yushau Shuaib. The incident was
suspected to be triggered by a suicide bomber in
a car.”
An AFP correspondent said mobs were yelling
“why the church?” and some were carrying
weapons, including machetes. Local elders were
seeking to restore calm.
Residents had earlier spoken of clashes having
broken out between Christian and Muslim
residents, and some believe today’s attack
seem to be achieving its motives with the
Christian mob already on rampage.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for three
suicide attacks on churches in Kaduna state in
June, which led to deadly rioting where dozens
of lives were lost.
Boko Haram’s insurgency in northern and
central Nigeria has led to more than 2,800
deaths since 2009. While Muslims have often
been its victims, it has in recent months also
specifically targeted churches.
President Goodluck Jonathan has said the group
is seeking to incite a religious crisis in Africa’s
most populous nation and largest oil producer,
roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north
and predominately Christian south.
Kaduna is a large mainly Muslim city north and
includes a sizeable Christian population.
Some Evangelical church leaders in Nigeria have
said Christians may be forced to defend
themselves if something is not done to address
the unrest. [AFP]: