Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State ,yesterday, said the aim of
the suicide bomber that blew off himself and killed eight worshippers at
St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Badarwa, Kaduna last Sunday was to kill the
entire 1000-plus worshippers attending mass that day.
The governor, who returned from a one-week holiday, Sunday evening,
took a tour of the bombed church and visited the injured taking
treatment in five different hospitals, saying government will foot their
bills and “assist” owners of affected property near the church.
Normalcy returns
Meanwhile, normal activities have resumed in the town with schools,
markets, shops, and all public offices opened. But, a convoy of armed
soldiers patrol the major streets of Kaduna to establish their presence.
VICTIM
OF THE SUICIDE BOMB BLAST ON SUNDAY AT ST. RITA’S CATHOLIC CHURUH,
ANGWAN YERO, MALALI, IN KADUNA; RECEIVING TREATMENT AT 44 NIGERIAN ARMY
HOSPITAL ON MONDAY. PHOTO:OLU AJAYI
Speaking at a press conference, yesterday, after what he said was a
five-hour tour to see for himself what happened, Yakowa said: “I have
gone to the affected church, and I have visited all the injured patients
and I am deeply saddened by what happened, but I thank God, because it
could have been worse.
“I met the officiating Priest during the Mass Service. His name is
Rev. Father Mike Bunni. He was able to tell me that the bomber was very
determined to kill all the over 1000 worshippers in the church. And you
could see how daring he was. He did not go through the gate. He drove
straight against the fenced wall of the church.
“The Priest said if the fence of the church was not strong, he could
have driven through the walls of the church and detonated the bomb
there. But the bomb went off just outside the door of the church and
brought it down. That was why the casualties were not that much. Four
were killed. That was what I was told. About 100 were injured. So, you
see, we have to thank God for his infinite grace, because the situation
could have been worse.
“I was at the 44 Army Referral Hospital, St Gerard Hospital, Garkuwa
Hospital Barau Dikko and Multi-Clinic Hospitals. I want to say that
though they are in various degrees of pain, they are all in high
spirits. I spoke to them, and they all said it was an act of God.
No amount of terror will frustrate me from worshipping Christ —Priest
“The Priest told me that no amount of terror will frustrate him from
worshiping Christ, and that terror cannot dictate how we worship God.
“I want to use this opportunity to also say that no amount of
wickedness of terrorism will deter us from pursuing our agenda of peace,
development and security. The few evil ones in this state cannot
frustrate the state.
“All the victims will be treated at the expense of the state
government, and I have assured all the Medical Directors of these
hospitals. We will also assist the owners of the damaged property near
the church. And this means that we have to spend on what we have not
planned for.”
He then thanked all that came out to assist the victims and praised Christian youths for not going into reprisal attacks.
The Deputy Speaker, Kaduna House of Assembly, Dr. Dogara Matto, spoke
at the press conference and said the House was ready to pass into law
under 24-hours any law that would improve peace and security in the
state.
The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, also
addressed the press and said: “I want to appeal to all our youths to
always refrain from taking the law into their hands by taking on
innocent people each time this kind of evil takes place. Evil cannot set
the pace on how we should leave with one another. I thank them for
heeding to this advice.”