On the morning of 25th December, 2011, the lens of all media houses was pointed at the Peaceful town of madalla in Niger state, due to a scenario that is still inked in the hearts of every member of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.
It was another beautiful Christmas day - so they thought-, and worshippers had trooped out in their numbers to pay respect to the birth of their saviour, Jesus Christ. With hopes of returning home to celebrate and break bread with family, friends and neighbors; Some families had to leave one or more member of their household at home to put in place all that will be needed to make the Christmas day a memorable one.
The Christmas has started with happy faces smiling at each other , as melodious carols leave the lips of all that was present in the church. The priest wasn't left out, as he gave out his usual power pack sermons. Truly it's Christmas: A day to celebrate.
Few minutes after the end of the mass, worshippers made their way out of the church , ready to begin their Christmas celebration.
Instead of celebration, it became a morning of mourning for the residents of madalla, both Christains and those of other faith.
Just same way the members of the church had been looking forward to a memorable Christmas day,a terrorists group,Boko Haram, had also been looking forward to that day , with the intention of leaving behind bitter tales on the lips of Nigerians and the world at large.
At exactly 8:30am, as narrated by an eye witness, an unusual sound was heard in the church premises. This wasn't the sound of Hallelujah from worshippers, but a bomb blast that was followed with wailing, screaming and loud crys of worshippers begging for their lives due to several degrees of injures and shock caused by the bomb blast.
Another bomb blast went off in quick secession, which had an even more devastating effect.
About 37 worshippers lost their lives, with many others seriously injured.

More than Eight years after this incident, the members of St. Theresa's Catholic Church Madalla, still feel the pain of losing their members, friends and siblings to this Bomb blast.
Mr kelechi john, who is a member of Catholic youth organization of Nigeria (Cyon), Madalla parish. lamented about how the bomb blast ended his glorious football career, by injuring his right foot, which resulted in him being just a spectator to the game he loves so much. Though he count himself lucky enough to be alive, as his friend who he came to church with on that day, didn't make it back home, but rather made a triumphant entry to the kingdom of his creator in heaven.
Mrs. Joy Femi, A member of Divine mercy ( a prayer group in the Catholic Church) , said that the church still pray daily to God for that day , hoping that God will forgive the sins of those who lost their lives and also give succor to those who lost love one.
She said that there is a page in the church weekly bulletins where a special prayer concerning the bomb blast is written.The prayer according to her, is like an anthem that every member of the church should know off hand.
But Mr Levinus okoroafor, member of Catholic men organization (CMO) is saddened by the fact that terrorism is still a topic in Nigeria. Though he's happy that Kabiru sokoto, the master mind of the Madalla bomb blast is behind bars, But he's still ashamed each time he reads in the papers that people are still losing their lives to terrorists in Nigeria.
A look at the church , shows that the damaged properties has been replaced and many more new building have sprung up, but the pains of what happened in 2011 is still thesame.
John Mustafa, a Catholic in Madalla still feels that other members of the Church still dislike him, just because he bears a Muslim name and hails from the Northern part of Nigeria.
One can still see apprehension, each time someone who looks like a Muslim makes his/her way into the church.
The regular Saturday sports exercise, that is carried out in the church premises by youths of the church and some others from the community, seems to ban Muslims from joining them.
This according to a source that don't want his name disclosed,is a preventive measure to avoid a reoccurrence of 25th December, 2011 incident.
There seems to be a remembrance and prayer for the victims on every 25th December. Some groups in the church use this opportunity to visit families who lost a love one in the blast.
According to Emeka Moses, a member of the church, He said that the church is planning a big remembrance event this year for all who died on that day, due to the bomb blast . He said the priest asked each organization in the church to think of how to make that day a read letter day .
Though the buildings has been repaired, and damaged properties replaced, but Christmas day had and will never be the same for St Theresa's Catholic Madalla, Niger State.
Cc ohuche Joseph ogbonna

Where's kabiru sokoto

Their Christmas service would tend to have that touch of sadness for the lives lost eight years ago. I hope they're with those singing heavenly songs.
The perpetrator had better rot in jail and transition to hell. Claiming lives is not forgivable, biko.
The church try sha...

athaboi:
Where's kabiru sokoto

I think he was released few years back as part exchange